Care benefits: care allowance, respite care and relief amount

Legal status: 08.10.2026 (federal law, checked against the statutory text). The amounts in the law are adjusted regularly; the version in force at the time of your entitlement is decisive. How the care level is determined is in the article Care level for autism. Legal terms are translated here for understanding; the German wording of the law is what counts.

Care allowance

People in need of care with care levels 2 to 5 can apply for a care allowance instead of home care assistance. The requirement is that, with the care allowance and to its extent, they themselves ensure in a suitable way the necessary body-related care measures, care-related support measures and help with housekeeping, for example through relatives. ^[1] The care allowance per calendar month is: ^[1]

Care level	Care allowance per month
2	347 euros
3	599 euros
4	800 euros
5	990 euros

Anyone receiving a care allowance must, in care levels 2 to 5, arrange a consultation in their own home once every six months; in care levels 4 and 5 this consultation can be taken up every quarter. For care level 1, there is an entitlement to arrange a consultation every six months. ^[1] During short-term care and respite care, half of the previous care allowance continues to be paid for up to eight weeks per calendar year in each case. ^[1]

Respite care

If a carer who looks after a person with at least care level 2 at home is prevented from providing care because of holiday, illness or other reasons, the care insurance fund covers the proven costs of necessary replacement care for a maximum of eight weeks per calendar year. ^[2] Applying beforehand, before the replacement care, is not required. For cost coverage, however, an application for reimbursement with proof of costs must be made by the end of the calendar year following the replacement care. ^[2]

For the amount of reimbursement: if the replacement care is provided by people other than those related or connected by marriage to the person in need of care up to the second degree or living with them in a shared household, the care insurance fund may reimburse at most up to the amount of the joint annual amount. For close relatives or people from the household: if they provide the replacement care professionally, the joint annual amount likewise applies; otherwise the reimbursement may as a rule not exceed the amount of the care allowance for up to two months, though proven necessary expenses of the replacement carer can be covered beyond that. Overall, the joint annual amount must not be exceeded. ^[2]

Joint annual amount

People in need of care with at least care level 2 are entitled to respite care and short-term care in the amount of a total benefit amount of up to 3,539 euros per calendar year (joint annual amount). ^[3] Respite care and short-term care therefore share this amount.

Relief amount

People in need of care in home care are entitled to a relief amount of up to 131 euros per month. It is earmarked: for quality-assured services to relieve family carers and to promote the independence and self-determination of people in need of care in shaping their everyday life. It serves to reimburse expenses for day or night care, short-term care, services of outpatient care services (in care levels 2 to 5 not for services in the area of self-care) and services recognised under state law for support in everyday life. ^[4]

The entitlement arises as soon as the requirements are met, without a prior application. The care insurance fund reimburses the money when the funds are applied for, on presentation of receipts for out-of-pocket costs incurred. If the amount is not used up in one calendar year, the unused amount can be carried over into the following calendar half-year. ^[4]

What else you should know

• Amounts change. For several amounts, the statutory text notes that the benefit amounts apply from 1.1.2025 according to a notice. Check the current status with your care insurance fund before applying. ^{[2; 4]}
• Not every benefit depends on care level 2. The relief amount applies to people in need of care in home care; for the care allowance and respite care, at least care level 2 is needed. ^{[1; 2; 4]}
• A reform is planned, but not yet law. On 30.09.2026 the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft of a Care Reorganisation Act, which provides among other things for higher care allowance amounts and new budgets and is to come into force essentially on 01.01.2027. ^[5] Until then, and as long as the Bundestag has decided nothing, the rules described here apply. Context: Care insurance: cabinet adopts Care Reorganisation Act.
• Further benefits of care insurance (for example benefits in kind from care services, short-term care in detail, care aids) are not covered here.
• Applications and objections: Applying and filing an objection. Further relief options for families: Relief for families.

Sources and literature

1. § 37 SGB XI – Pflegegeld für selbst beschaffte Pflegehilfen (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__37.html). – Statute (German federal law, in German)
2. § 39 SGB XI – Verhinderungspflege (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__39.html). – Statute (German federal law, in German)
3. § 42a SGB XI – Gemeinsamer Jahresbetrag (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__42a.html). – Statute (German federal law, in German)
4. § 45b SGB XI – Entlastungsbetrag (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__45b.html). – Statute (German federal law, in German)
5. Bundesregierung: Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Neuordnung der Pflegeversicherung (PNOG), Kabinettsentwurf vom 30.09.2026. – Draft bill, not valid law (in German)