The social welfare office of the Oder-Spree district is simplifying access to housing benefit by digitizing the application process. Since January 1, 2025, citizens have been able to apply for housing benefit conveniently from home on the district's website without having to visit the office in person. This saves time and effort for everyone involved. The district administration already received 17 online applications in the first 14 days. By digitizing the housing benefit process, the Oder-Spree district is taking an important step towards citizen-friendly and efficient administration.
Housing benefit is a state subsidy for rent or to provide financial relief for owner-occupiers. Thanks to the new online application option, eligible persons can now claim their entitlement more efficiently and quickly. In Brandenburg, only around ten authorities currently offer the option of submitting housing benefit applications online - and the Oder-Spree district administration was one of the first to do so.
The Oder-Spree district's housing benefit office has been using the eWoG web application, which is also being used successfully in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, since 2017. Around 150 housing benefit authorities in four different federal states are now working with this software. After a short test phase, the team at the housing benefit office, together with the specialist office procedure supervisor Sebastian Leitner, head of department Nadin Braden and office manager Nico Ludwig, was able to officially launch the online application in the Oder-Spree district on January 1, 2025. Citizens can now submit both initial applications as well as applications for continued benefits and applications for increases, including all necessary attachments, online.
The aim is to be able to gradually offer further services from the social welfare office online in the future.
Warning of fraud
Currently, there is an increase in abuse via the website online-wohngeld.de, the consumer advice center warns. This site gives the impression that housing benefit can be applied for there, but this is not the case - fees are also charged. The services of the Oder-Spree district administration are free of charge.