Compensar housing subsidy: requirements, amounts and how to apply

Last updated: July 2026

The money for the down payment may be waiting for you in the account you already contribute to every month. Thousands of families discover too late that the Compensar housing subsidy There is a requirement, which is requested once a year when the form opens, and having the documents ready is not a minor detail: it's the difference between applying and being excluded. Here is the complete process, with the information officially published by Compensar and without fabricated figures.

We are Hepacom, the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation (NIT 900.841.914-1), and we work for the right to decent housing. We are not Compensar, nor do we manage their subsidy: we explain how it works so that you arrive at the window knowing what they will ask for.

What is the Compensar housing subsidy and who can benefit from it?

It's a cash contribution that the compensation fund provides to affiliated households to buy, build, or improve their social housing. It doesn't need to be repaid. It comes from the parafiscal contributions made by your employer (or you, if you're a self-employed affiliate), so it's not a gift or a bank loan: it's a benefit you're entitled to if you meet the requirements.

One fact worth knowing before continuing to read: Compensar operates in Bogotá and Cundinamarca. In the self-build option, the savings and loan association explicitly states this on its official website. If your family lives in Antioquia, the southern Aburrá Valley, or any other region, the process is the same, but the association you qualify for is different, and the loan amounts and payment schedules are set by each one. If you'd like to compare them before deciding, we have the details at [link to relevant information]. how much does each compensation fund give?.

What are the requirements to apply?

Compensar publishes these conditions for the applicant household:

• Be contributing member to the Compensar family compensation fund and form a household, which can be spouses, permanent partners or relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity.
• That they family income equal to or less than four current legal monthly minimum wages.
• That none of the people who make up the household own or possess a home within the national territory.
• That no member has been a beneficiary of a national family housing subsidy (National Housing Fund, INURBE, Agrarian Bank, FOREC or Military Housing Promotion Fund, according to the fund's list).
• Contribute own resourcesSavings or severance pay intended for housing solutions.
• That the housing classifies as social housing, within the established value limits.

This income requirement of up to 4 times the minimum monthly wage (SMMLV) overlaps with the affiliation category. The Superintendency of Family Subsidies defines it as follows, verbatim: «"Category A. Up to two current legal monthly minimum wages. Category B. More than two and up to four current legal monthly minimum wages. Category C. More than four current legal monthly minimum wages."» In practice, households in categories A and B are the ones that qualify for the housing subsidy; those in category C are excluded from the income cap.

How much is the Compensar housing subsidy?

These are the limits that Compensar publishes on its official website. They change every year because they are tied to the minimum wage, so use them as a reference and confirm the current value before calculating:

This information was compiled by Hepacom using amounts published by Compensar on its housing and self-build subsidy websites. The maximum amounts are adjusted annually based on the minimum wage, and the self-build option applies only to Bogotá and Cundinamarca. We do not publish eligibility scores or allocation rankings because Compensar does not make this information publicly available. Always verify current values through official channels. Last updated: July 2026.

Common mistakes when applying for the Compensar housing subsidy

• Wait until you have chosen a house to find out the timeline: The registration form isn't open year-round; it's available according to the schedule published by the office. If it opens and you don't have the required documents, your application is no longer valid, and you'll have to wait for the next opening.
• Believing that subsidies replace savings: The household must contribute its own resources (savings or severance pay) and, for construction on its own land, a minimum of 101% of the value of the housing solution. The subsidy complements, but does not cover, the entire cost.
• Applying if you own property in the name of someone in your household: If even one member is listed as the owner or possessor of the property, the home will be deemed unfit for occupancy. Check this before filing, not after the rejection.

How to apply for the Compensar housing subsidy step by step?

You apply online, when the bank makes the form available according to its schedule. Compensar states on its website that the application form for housing and rental subsidies is available according to that schedule; in 2026, for example, applications opened on January 26. That's why it's advisable to have everything ready months in advance.

The route, in order:

1. Check your membership and your category. You must be registered as a contributor and up to date with your contributions.
2. I gathered the documents. Compensar requires identity documents for adults in the household, original employment certification issued less than 30 days prior, proof of approved or pre-approved mortgage loan, and proof of available personal resources (savings or severance pay).
3. I defined the modality depending on what you're going to do: buy a new one, build on your lot, improve the one you have, or cover the rent in the meantime.
4. Submit the form on the official Compensar channel within the dates of the schedule.
5. Wait for the assignment and check the result in the award and validity section of the box.

If you're going to use your severance pay as part of your savings, first check the rules of severance pay to buy a home, because the withdrawal process has its own procedures and timelines with the fund.

Can it be combined with Mi Casa Ya or other subsidies?

Yes, with rules. Housing subsidies can be combined, but each program defines which ones can be combined and under what conditions, and this overlap is what generates the most objections. Before applying for two subsidies at the same time, check how the program works. concurrence of housing subsidies and confirm it with the bank and with the entity of the other program.

And if you're still trying to understand the general mechanism before tackling a specific box, start with How does the housing subsidy from the compensation fund work?.

How Hepacom accompanies you

We support families who approach these processes afraid to ask questions and with the feeling that the paperwork is designed to discourage them. If you're putting together your application and don't know where to start, write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or from contact usWe offer free guidance on what to check and what to ask at your compensation fund, whether it's Compensar or the one corresponding to your department. Access to decent housing shouldn't depend on knowing how to read a schedule. However, the compensation fund is responsible for reviewing, allocating, and distributing the subsidy. Hepacom does not charge, manage paperwork, or receive payments for this service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to earn to qualify for the Compensar housing subsidy?
Household income must be equal to or less than four current monthly legal minimum wages. This limit applies to affiliation categories A and B; households in category C, which exceed four minimum wages, are excluded.

Can I apply if I've already received a housing subsidy before?
No. No member of the household can have received a national family housing subsidy. Nor can they own or possess any housing in the country.

On what dates can I apply?
There is no year-round application window: the application form is available according to the schedule published by Compensar. In 2026, applications opened on January 26. Check the current schedule on the official channel before preparing your application.

Does it work if I live outside of Bogotá?
Compensar covers Bogotá and Cundinamarca, and its self-build housing program applies only to that area. If you live in another region, look for the compensation fund you're affiliated with there: the process is the same and the general requirements are also the same, but the amounts and timelines are determined by each fund.

Last updated: July 2026. Information guide. The procedure is carried out by the official entity. Sources: Compensate — housing subsidies y Superintendency of Family Subsidies. Amounts, requirements, and schedules change depending on the validity period: always check with your bank's official channel. Hepacom does not collect or manage payments or procedures.