Pflegegrad (care level)
Assessment of need for care by independence in everyday life, not by diagnosis. Benefits of care insurance are available on application to the care insurance fund (Pflegekasse).
- Also called
- care level, care degrees
The care level does not depend on a diagnosis but on how independent a person is in everyday life. The law asks whether someone has health-related impairments of independence or abilities and therefore needs the help of others permanently, probably for at least six months. [1] Autism is not mentioned in the law. For children, independence is compared with that of children whose development is appropriate for their age. [2] Benefits are available on application to the care insurance fund. [3]
Legal position as of: 8 October 2026. A reform of care insurance has been adopted as a cabinet draft but is not yet law; details in the article “Pflegegrad bei Autismus”.
Sources and literature
- § 14 SGB XI – Begriff der Pflegebedürftigkeit. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__14.html
- § 15 SGB XI – Ermittlung des Grades der Pflegebedürftigkeit, Begutachtungsinstrument. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__15.html
- § 33 SGB XI – Leistungsvoraussetzungen. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__33.html
In detail: Care level for autism
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