To prevent or detect the unlawful receipt of housing assistance, the housing assistance agency may regularly verify the information provided by all household members by cross-checking data—including through automated means—in particular with the Pension Insurance Data Center.
For example, a cross-check may be performed to determine
- whether basic income support is being paid while housing allowance is being received,
- whether the recipient is engaged in employment subject to social insurance contributions or in marginal employment,
- or the amount of investment income for which an exemption order has been issued.
It is also possible to cross-check with the registration authority regarding registered addresses, housing status, and the timing of address changes. In addition, the housing allowance authority may request account information from the Federal Central Tax Office. Suspected cases of fraud are generally reported to the public prosecutor’s office.
Through these checks, the housing assistance authority can determine, for example,
- whether housing assistance is being received multiple times,
- whether transfer payments that would lead to disqualification from housing assistance are being received at the same time,
- whether the information provided in the housing allowance application
- regarding income from employment,
- income from one or more pensions,
- and income from capital gains (interest or dividends),
- whether, in the case of initial unemployment, unemployment benefits were discontinued (for example, due to taking on new employment), and
- whether the original residence for which housing assistance was provided is still actually being used.
The review may be conducted up to 10 years after notification of the relevant housing allowance approval.
