Housing allowance increased by NOK 66 million

rent out Oslo municipality's carsOslo.Photo: Pixabay

The government increased the level of housing benefit in the revised national budget. Thus, 1,100 new households come into the scheme.

In 2018, there were about 180,000 Norwegian households receiving housing benefits. The new building fee ceiling will take effect from 1 July, and the NOK 66 million will apply for the rest of 2019.

This means that 18,000 households will receive increased housing support. According to the government’s calculations the increase may
be up to NOK 8,000 a year for some.

‘’The housing benefit is a precise scheme that helps families with very low incomes to better manage their housing expenses. I am therefore
pleased that we are now strengthening the housing subsidy to improve the living conditions for children” said Minister of Local Government and Modernization, Monica Mæland of Høyre (H).

‘’This is still not sufficient for many’’ said Husbanken’s annual report for 2018.

The analysis showed that the housing allowance for a single person, with a pension of NOK 16,000 a month and NOK 7,000 in rent, had to be increased by NOK 1,500 a month if the goal is to keep housing
expenses below 25% of the income.

The increase that has been reported now will, at best, provide increased support of up to NOK 666 a month. Nevertheless, the tenant association is happy on behalf of tenants who are dependent on public support.

‘’These are poor people who receive housing support and every hundred kroner for them makes a big difference’’ said Lars Aasen, leader of the Leieboerforeningen to TV2 news.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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