Money Gives: Who Can Receive Housing Assistance in Riga 0 11

Assistance to residents during periods of high heating bills allows support even for those who previously did not meet income criteria.

Check Eligibility

Benefits are available to households whose income after paying for rent and utilities (according to regulations) falls below the established threshold.

Thanks to new coefficients, assistance can now be claimed by, for example, single pensioners with incomes up to 700-800 euros.

If you are already receiving housing assistance, the recalculation with the new coefficients occurs automatically — there is no need to submit a new application.

If you are applying for the first time, you must submit an application to the Riga City Council Social Service.

Antra Gabre, representative of the Riga municipality:

"Support for covering housing-related expenses is not automatically provided to all residents of Riga. Benefits can only be received by those households that meet the criteria specified in the regulations.

The assessment for benefit recipients applies to everyone. In households where only pensioners/disabled persons live, the conditions are evaluated every six months, while those with at least one working-age person are assessed every three months.

Several factors are considered in the assessment: household income, material condition, including movable and immovable property available to each person, as well as accumulated funds.

To assess income, each household member must provide the Riga Social Service with documents confirming income for the last three full calendar months (including mandatory documents, as well as bank statements or postal payment system statements), as well as receipts for rent and utilities related to the use of residential premises.

Residents who were not assessed and did not receive housing assistance for January and February, but received assistance now in March, will not receive benefits for previous months. They may only be granted benefits from the moment the application is submitted to the social service and their financial situation is verified."

Where to Send the Application for Assistance

• electronically: through the portal Latvija.gov.lv (using an electronic signature or online banking).

• in person: at one of the territorial centers of the Riga Social Service (pre-registration by phone is recommended via the Riga information line: 80001201).

• by mail: sending a signed application to - Riga, Baznīcas iela 19/23 (1st floor) (Baznīcas iela 19/23 (1.stāvs), Rīga, LV-1010). Informative phone - 1201.

Key Changes in 2026

Housing assistance from January 1 to April 30 is calculated according to a specific formula: household income, guaranteed minimum income threshold (GMI), and normative housing expenses are taken into account.

In 2026, the GMI threshold for the first and only person in the household is 187 euros, for others — 131 euros.

• The amount of housing assistance for a pensioner living alone or a person with a disability living alone = 187 euros multiplied by a coefficient of 2.5, plus the amount of housing expenses minus income.

• The amount of housing assistance for a household consisting only of pensioners or persons with disabilities = (187 euros + 131 euros) x coefficient 2 - amount of housing expenses – income.

• The amount of housing assistance for two parents and a child = (187 + 131 + 131 + 131) x coefficient 2 - amount of housing expenses – income (excluding the state family benefit for the child).

It has been found that after all arithmetic actions and applications, the average amount of assistance in Latvia increased by 46 euros per month.