Berlin · Mietenstufe IV · 2026
German benefits optimizer
Model Grundsicherung versus working — and see which leaves more euros in your pocket once Bürgergeld, Wohngeld, Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag are weighed against your rent and work costs.
⚠️ Important if you hold a non-EU residence permit. Claiming needs-based benefits — Bürgergeld / Grundsicherung (SGB II / SGB XII) — can seriously harm your immigration status. Living on these benefits can block your path to permanent residence (§9 AufenthG), citizenship (§10 StAG), and can even affect your permit renewal, because most permits require that you secure your living without public assistance. Work-based, contribution-based, and family benefits (Kindergeld, Elterngeld, Wohngeld while working) are generally safe. Treat any "live on Bürgergeld" result below as RISKY for your status, not a goal — and check your specific case with a Migrationsberatung or the Ausländerbehörde before relying on it.
Estimates for exploration, not advice — verify with the Kinderzuschlag-Lotse, the official Wohngeldrechner and your Jobcenter before acting on any figure.
Figures follow §19 WoGG (Wohngeld coefficient tables), Grundsicherung Regelbedarf + KdU, the Kinderzuschlag taper, the Erwerbstätigenfreibetrag and Schonvermögen asset limits — updated for the 13th SGB II reform and verified 2026 rates. This tool keeps a §20 RDG posture: general information, never individualised legal advice.
Your household
Two adults assumed. Adjust anything.
Sets your Wohngeld cap (Mietstufe IV). Higher-rent cities allow a bigger cap. The free-apartment (KdU) figure stays a Berlin-approx indikativ level.
Children under 63
Free apartment for this family ≈ €1,100
Household gross wage€2,409
€0 = nobody works (rely on Grundsicherung). Full-time min. wage ≈ €2,409.
Your WBS rent (if you work)€600
Only used on the working path — you pay this yourself.
Work cost / working adult€500
Investment portfolio€20,000
Interactive Brokers, ETFs, savings (market value)
What matters most to you?
Recommended for your goal
Most cash: Work + KiZ + Wohngeld → €2,686/mo
That’s €650 more per month than the other path.
Working the KiZ+Wohngeld path leaves €528/mo more than nobody working.
Computed Wohngeld ≈ €501 and Kinderzuschlag ≈ €593 for this rent & income.
Your €20,000 portfolio: ✓ Grundsicherung · ✓ Kinderzuschlag · ✓ Wohngeld.
Where every euro goes — tap a block
Each colour = a source of money; the striped honey block is housing. Dashed line = cash you keep.
€0€1,060€2,120€3,180€4,240
€2,036you keep / mo
keep
€2,686you keep / mo
keep
Live on Grundsicherung
apartment FREE
Work + KiZ + Wohngeld
you pay rent
MOST CASHAdults' allowanceChildren's allowanceChild bonusNet wage / protected payKindergeldKinderzuschlagWohngeldApartment (free / paid)
↑ Tap any block for what it means
Tap a block to see details
Sources of money and housing for each path.
Live on Grundsicherung
citizen’s income · apartment free
Adults' living allowance€1,012
Children's living allowance€1,071
Children's instant bonus€75
Protected earnings€378
Cash coming in€2,536
ApartmentFREE €1,100
− Work costs−€500
You keep / month€2,036
Work + KiZ + Wohngeld ✓
off Bürgergeld · you pay rent
Net wage€1,915
Child benefit€777
Child supplement€593
Housing benefit€501
Cash coming in€3,786
− Rent you pay−€600
− Work costs−€500
You keep / month€2,686
Does your portfolio keep each benefit legal?
Limits scale with family size — updates as you change children.
Grundsicherung
€10k/adult + €5k/child
€10k/adult + €5k/child
limit €35,000
within limit
within limit
Kinderzuschlag
€40k + €15k/member
€40k + €15k/member
limit €100,000
within limit
within limit
Wohngeld
€60k + €30k/member
€60k + €30k/member
limit €180,000
within limit
within limit
Only portfolio value counts; realised gains count separately as income. A self-occupied home, reasonable car, household goods and locked pensions are protected on top.
Estimates for exploration, not advice. Grundsicherung & Aufstocker maths are deterministic; Wohngeld is computed via the official §19 WoGG formula for your city's Mietstufe (IV; verified 2026 Höchstbeträge, ~20% income deductions + €100/mo Werbungskostenpauschale); Kinderzuschlag approximates the official taper. The free-apartment (KdU) ceiling stays an approximate Berlin Bruttowarm level — indikativ, since each municipality sets its own. Verify with the Kinderzuschlag-Lotse, the official Wohngeldrechner and your Jobcenter. Reflects 2026 rates & the 13th SGB II reform.