Housing benefit

General

Description

You may apply for housing benefit if your household has low income and high living expenses. Specific requirements are made regarding the household and the residence. The scheme is means tested.
 

Criteria

Requirements concerning the household:

The household has a low income and high living expenses. Students and military personnel are not included in the scheme. Students who have their own child/children or who participate in a qualifying programme or a rehabilitation scheme may nevertheless receive housing benefit.

Requirements concerning the residence:
 

• The residence must be approved for year-round occupation
• It must be an independent residence with its own entrance
• The residence must have its own bath and toilet, and it must provide an opportunity for rest and for food preparation.

In special circumstances, an exception may be made for rented property made available by the municipality organised as a communal residence or the like.

Partners

Housing benefit is a state support scheme which is administered by the State Housing Bank and the municipality.

Laws

• Lov om behandlingsmåten i forvaltningssaker av 10. februar 1967 Forvaltningsloven
• Husbankloven
• Forskrift om bostøtte fra Den Norske Stats Husbank av 22. desember 2004 nr. 1755 Forskrift om bostøtte

Application

Guidelines

An application for housing benefit must be made using the form available from the municipality or the internet (see link below).

Complaint

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you may appeal to the municipal housing support office within three weeks of having been informed of the decision. Explain why you are not satisfied and what you feel should be changed. If you need advice, you may ask the municipality. Remember to state you name, address, date of birth and Norwegian identity number, and municipality of residence. The appeal must be signed. All appeals are considered by the State Housing Bank's regional office. This may take up to three months.

Deadline

Applications should be made by the 14th of the month. Payments are made on the 10th of the following month. The situation on the first of the month is decisive fro calculating housing benefit.
 

Duration

A written reply is sent each month.

Processing

The municipality receives and registers the application and will have on-going contact with you. Information is obtained from a number of public registers such as the Population Registry, the tax authorities and the Norwegian labour and welfare administration. The State Housing Bank makes the formal decision regarding housing benefit.

You do not need to re-apply each month once you have been granted benefits, but you must notify the authorities if changes occur that have a bearing on the benefits. If you move house, you must re-apply and supply new information.

Other

Updated

Valid from