General housing allowance changed: How does this affect student's life.

The decision of Parliament on the change in housing allowance came into force on 1 April 2024. How does this then affect students' housing support. Parliament has decided on the cuts in general housing allowance, which will reduce the amount of housing allowance in 2024. Most of the changes in general housing allowance came into force on April 1, 2024 and will affect the housing allowance for the next annual review. In addition, there is no longer any general housing allowance for owner -occupied housing as of 1.1.2025.

This is how the housing allowance changed 

In the future, the basic liability will be 50 % of the income that exceed the lower limit of income limits for general housing allowance.

When Kela calculates how much housing support can receive a household, the cuisine is defined as basic responsibility. It is influenced by the combined income of the household and the number of food. The higher the income, the greater the basic responsibility. The lowest earnings have no basic responsibility at all.

The reimbursement of the general housing allowance decreased to 70 % due to the difference between acceptable housing costs and basic liability. After the change, the general housing allowance will replace a smaller part of the housing costs. This means that a higher proportion of housing costs will be paid for the household itself. The change will reduce the housing allowance of all general housing supports.

A reduction in earnings of a general housing allowance of 300 € will be eliminated. Meanwhile, in the future, all earnings will affect the aid received, whereas in the past it may have been able to earn 300 €/month with the amount of support received.

The changes came into force starting April 1, 2024. Changes in the housing allowance of the household will be affected by the next time the aid is checked or when the aid is granted to a household that does not yet receive housing allowance.

That is, your current support for housing will change with the changes that entered into force on April 1, 2024 only when the next residence support review. If your income (eg salary) or your expenses (eg rental or number of food) will change, you should apply for a review as soon as possible, and the changes in the housing allowance that entered into force will also be taken into account.

Read more about housing allowance and its change:
How does income affect the general housing allowance? | Our Services | Kela
Situations where the amount of general housing allowance will change | Kela