Eight-month rent aid delay leaves family of four struggling

Last year, Luxembourg raised the amount of rent subsidies available to households with children and increased the income thresholds so that more people could qualify for assistance, wish was seen as a welcome development. However, this progress has come with a downside: significant delays in subsidy payments, which are causing serious hardship for many families.

This systemic issue was highlighted in a recent RTL report featuring Jean-Claude Even and his family from Reisdorf. The family, which includes two children, has relied on rent subsidies for over three years. While they had come to expect a delay of one to two months, their latest request, submitted in September 2024, has yet to result in any payments. For eight months now, they have had to cover an extra €440 per month out of pocket. Jean-Claude described how the rising cost of food, electricity, and daily essentials has strained their finances, forcing the family to cut back significantly on spending.

In their attempts to understand the reason for the delay, the couple contacted Housing Minister Claude Meisch and Romain Alff, Director of the Housing Department. Despite repeated letters and emails, they say they have received no response. To show they are not alone, they collected signatures from other tenants in their building, some of whom have been waiting over a year for their subsidy.

Sacha Breuer, head of the Social Office in Differdange, confirmed that such delays are common and affect a wide range of cases. He explained that while some applications or annual renewals are handled within two to three months, others take nearly a year. Furthermore, Breuer believes that the complexity of applicants' personal and professional circumstances, such as changes in employment contracts or family structures, can complicate the evaluation process.

Breuer also warned of the serious consequences these delays can have. He said many people end up in the red as a result and although subsidies are eventually paid retroactively, this undermines their purpose – by the time the money arrives, the rent has already been paid, and the financial pressure has already taken its toll.

Despite the challenges, Breuer described the working relationship with the national Housing Aid Administration as constructive. A meeting between the relevant bodies is planned in the near future to address the issue.

In a written statement to RTL, the Ministry of Housing acknowledged the delays and said they are aware of the growing frustration among beneficiaries. The average processing time is currently six months, which the ministry attributes to both the volume of applications and the time it takes for applicants to gather necessary documents. Still, they noted that 60% of cases are processed within three months.

In response, the government has launched a legislative reform to simplify and speed up the application process. Since March, it has also been possible to submit applications online via Guichet.lu, with further digitalisation efforts planned to improve access and efficiency.

© Eric Ebstein