Housing benefit in Vienna: who gets it and how much rent counts at most
Vienna’s housing benefit pays the part of the rent that is too high relative to the household income. What counts, who can get it and when to apply — with the figures the City itself publishes.
In short: In Vienna, housing benefit is only paid for a rented flat you already live in, not for one you are about to move into. At most 8.67 € per m² is counted for the appropriate size — 60 m² for one person, 75 m² for two, 10 m² more for each further person —; electricity, heating and hot water do not count. The household income must reach at least 1,229.89 € for the applicant (2026); the amount is the difference between the countable and the reasonable housing cost.
Who can get it
- Your centre of life and main residence are in Vienna, and you actually live there.
- You are the tenant of the flat and not related to the owner.
- You receive no minimum income support (Mindestsicherung, MA 40).
- The household income reaches the minimum set in the Vienna Housing Benefit Act and stays below its maximum.
- You are an Austrian citizen or treated as one: EU/EEA or Swiss citizens, recognised refugees, UK citizens with an “Article 50 TEU” residence title, or third-country nationals legally settled in Austria for at least five years.
How much rent counts at most
| Household | appropriate size | counted at most |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 60 m² | 520.20 € |
| 2 people | 75 m² | 650.25 € |
| 3 people | 85 m² | 736.95 € |
| 4 people | 95 m² | 823.65 € |
| 5 people | 105 m² | 910.35 € |
If the flat is larger, only the appropriate size counts. The City builds the maximum per m² from the category A guideline rent without surcharges plus a 2 € operating-cost allowance. From this countable amount, the reasonable housing cost is deducted — the part the household has to carry itself; it depends on household size and income.
The minimum income in 2026
| Applicant | 1,229.89 € |
|---|---|
| per partner (marriage, partnership, cohabitation) | + 491.95 € |
| per child or grandchild under 18 | + 332.07 € |
| per child or grandchild aged 18 to 25 | + 922.42 € |
| per further adult | + 1,229.89 € |
What counts is what everyone in the household has available net — earnings, pension, maintenance, unemployment benefit, childcare allowance, student grants and more. Not counted are, for example, family allowance, care allowance and minimum income support.
What does not count as housing cost
- Electricity, heating, hot water and telephone
- Repayments of private loans
- Other living costs such as food, clothing, school or kindergarten
- Holiday and Christmas bonuses (not counted as income)
What heating, hot water and electricity cost for a Vienna flat →
Applying
Online with the City of Vienna or with the form at MA 50 (Heiligenstädter Straße 31), with ID, income proofs of everyone in the household, the tenancy agreement and proof of the current rent. Applied for by the 15th of a month, the whole month counts; back payment is possible for up to four months. Changes in income or rent must be reported within a month. To the City’s application and benefit checker →
Frequently asked
Can I get housing benefit for a flat I am about to move into?
No. According to the City of Vienna, housing benefit can only be applied for for a flat you already live in. Plan the first months without it.
How much housing benefit will I get?
The amount is the difference between the countable housing cost (at most 8.67 € per m² for the appropriate size) and the reasonable housing cost, which depends on household size and income. The City’s “Wohnbeihilfe-Checker” checks the requirements; the decision is made by MA 50 in a notice.
Do heating costs count?
No. Electricity, heating, hot water and telephone are not part of the housing cost for the benefit — they have to be paid from the income. What they cost for a typical flat is on the energy costs page.
What is the minimum income in 2026?
1,229.89 € a month net for the applicant, plus 491.95 € per partner, 332.07 € per child under 18, 922.42 € per child aged 18 to 25 and 1,229.89 € per further adult.
From when is it paid?
If you apply by the 15th of a month, it can be paid from the 1st of that month (if the tenancy covers the whole month). Back payment is possible for up to four months before the application.
Sources: City of Vienna – “Wohnbeihilfe - Antrag”, information on household income, flat size and countable housing cost; MA 50 information sheet on the Vienna housing benefit; Vienna Housing Benefit Act (WrWbG). Read on 23 October 2026. No individual advice and no calculation of a benefit — MA 50 decides in a notice.
Energy costs of a flat · Affordable living · Renting a flat · Municipal housing