Care FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Answers about care grades, 2026 benefits, care costs and legal changes – and find matching care providers right away.
Care Benefits 2026
Source: BMG, § 36–45b SGB XI
| CG | AllowanceAllow. | BenefitsBen. | ReliefRel. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | – | 131€ |
| 2 | 347€ | 796€ | 131€ |
| 3 | 599€ | 1497€ | 131€ |
| 4 | 800€ | 1859€ | 131€ |
| 5 | 990€ | 2299€ | 131€ |
* Monthly amounts in Euro. Care grade 1 receives only the relief amount. Source: § 36, 37, 45b SGB XI
SPV Expenditure Trend
Source: Destatis, vdek
Actual
Forecast
2026 Deficit: €3.5-5.8 billion forecast.
Care Grades
A care grade describes how independent a person still is. There are 5 care grades, with grade 1 being the lowest and grade 5 the highest level of care dependency. The care grade determines what benefits you receive from the care insurance.
Source: Federal Ministry of Health, § 14 SGB XI
The Medical Service (MD) assesses the person in 6 areas: Mobility (10%), Cognitive abilities (15%), Behavior (15%), Self-care (40%), Dealing with illness (20%), and Daily life (15%). A point value is calculated:
• Care grade 1: 12.5 to under 27 points
• Care grade 2: 27 to under 47.5 points
• Care grade 3: 47.5 to under 70 points
• Care grade 4: 70 to under 90 points
• Care grade 5: 90 to 100 points
Source: § 15 SGB XI, Federal Ministry of Health
Yes, you can apply for an upgrade to your care insurance if your condition has worsened. An objection to the classification is also possible within 4 weeks. From 2026, care insurance must communicate their decision within 25 working days.
Source: § 18 SGB XI, Care Reform 2026
Benefits & Amounts 2026
The care allowance for home care by relatives since 01.01.2025:
• Care grade 1: no allowance
• Care grade 2: €347 monthly
• Care grade 3: €599 monthly
• Care grade 4: €800 monthly
• Care grade 5: €990 monthly
The care allowance was increased by 4.5% on 01.01.2025. The next adjustment is expected by 01.01.2028.
Source: Federal Ministry of Health, § 37 SGB XI
Benefits in kind for professional care services since 01.01.2025:
• Care grade 1: no benefits
• Care grade 2: €796 monthly
• Care grade 3: €1,497 monthly
• Care grade 4: €1,859 monthly
• Care grade 5: €2,299 monthly
A combination with care allowance is possible. The next adjustment is expected by 01.01.2028.
Source: § 36 SGB XI, Federal Ministry of Health
The relief amount of €131 monthly is available from care grade 1. It can be used for:
• Day and night care
• Short-term care
• Everyday support services
• Relief for caring relatives
Unused amounts can be saved for up to 18 months.
Source: § 45b SGB XI
**Combined annual budget (since 01.07.2025):**
Respite care and short-term care have been combined into a flexible budget of €3,539 per year. This can be freely allocated between both services.
**Respite care (§ 39 SGB XI):**
When the caregiver is unavailable. From care grade 2, max 6 weeks per year.
**Short-term care (§ 42 SGB XI):**
For temporary needs, max 8 weeks.
A prior care period is no longer required since 01.07.2025.
Source: §§ 39, 42 SGB XI, Care Reform 2026
Costs & Personal Contributions
The benefit expenditures of social care insurance (SPV) nearly tripled between 2013 and 2024:
• 2013: €25.5 billion
• 2018: €40.8 billion
• 2023: €59.2 billion
• 2024: €68.2 billion
The number of beneficiaries rose from 2.6 million (2013) to 5.6 million (2024).
Source: Federal Statistical Office, Allgäuer Zeitung 28.05.2025
Average personal contributions for a nursing home place in 2025 exceed €2,400 per month. This includes:
• Uniform personal contribution for care
• Accommodation and meals
• Investment costs
**Care insurance supplements:**
• Year 1: 15% subsidy
• Year 2: 30% subsidy
• Year 3: 50% subsidy
• From year 4: 75% subsidy
Source: Merkur.de, § 43c SGB XI
**Current contribution rates (since 01.01.2025):**
• With 1 child: 3.6% of gross income
• Childless from age 23: 4.2% of gross income
• From 2 children under 25: 0.25% reduction per child (up to 5 children)
Contribution rates remain stable in 2026. For each 2nd to 5th child under 25, the rate is reduced by 0.25 percentage points (minimum: 2.6%).
Source: Federal Government, Tagesschau, DAK-Gesundheit
Changes in 2026
**Important changes from 2026:**
✓ **Care allowance during hospitalization:** Paid for up to 8 weeks (instead of 4)
✓ **Advisory visits:** Care grade 4-5 only twice yearly
✓ **Assessment deadlines:** Decision within 25 working days
✓ **Care apps:** Budget increased to €40/month
✓ **Respite care billing:** Shortened to end of following year
✓ **Prevention:** Additional advice on preventive measures
Source: Chip.de, Federal Ministry of Health
**Financial situation:**
Experts warn of worsening finances. A deficit of €3.5-5.8 billion is forecast for 2026.
**Causes:**
• Rising number of care-dependent (5 million in 2023)
• Higher wages in care sector
• Inflation and rising costs
**Possible measures:**
• Contribution increases
• Tax subsidies
• Structural reforms
Source: Tagesschau, DAK-Gesundheit, Care Association
For Caring Relatives
**Yes, under certain conditions:**
• At least 10 hours of care per week, spread over at least 2 days
• Care-dependent has at least care grade 2
• You work no more than 30 hours per week
**The care fund pays contributions to pension insurance:**
• Care grade 2: approx. €172 (West) / €169 (East) monthly
• Care grade 5: approx. €614 (West) / €604 (East) monthly
Source: § 44 SGB XI, German Pension Insurance
**Care time (§ 3 PflegeZG):**
• Full or partial leave for up to 6 months
• For employees in companies with more than 15 employees
• Unpaid but with dismissal protection
**Family care time (§ 2 FPfZG):**
• Reduction to at least 15 hours/week for up to 24 months
• Interest-free loan possible
**Care support allowance:**
Up to 10 days paid leave in acute care situations.
Source: Care Time Act, Family Care Time Act, § 44a SGB XI
**Consumable care aids:**
Up to €42 monthly for disposable gloves, disinfectants, bed protectors, etc. (since 01.01.2025, previously €40).
**Technical care aids:**
Care bed, wheelchair, lifter etc. are loaned or subsidized.
**Living space adaptation:**
Up to €4,000 per measure for barrier-free conversions.
**Combined annual budget (since 01.07.2025):**
Respite care and short-term care are combined in a flexible budget of €3,539 per year.
Source: §§ 40, 40a SGB XI
Finding Care Providers
Use our search to find care providers near you. Look for:
• Reviews from other care-dependent persons
• Services offered and specializations
• Price transparency
• MD quality reports
Schedule non-binding consultations with several providers.
**Outpatient care:**
A care service comes to your home. Advantage: familiar environment, flexibility.
**Semi-inpatient care (day/night care):**
Care in a facility during the day or night.
**Inpatient care (nursing home):**
24/7 care in a care facility.
**24-hour care:**
A caregiver lives in the household (cost: €2,500-4,500/month).
About Pflegecheck
Pflegecheck is an independent platform that helps care-dependent persons and their relatives find suitable care services nearby. Our services include:
• Search and compare over 40,000 care facilities across Germany
• Care grade calculator to estimate your entitlement
• Care cost calculator for financial planning
• Direct contact to providers via the platform
• Current information on benefits and legal changes
All features are completely free for care seekers and relatives.
Yes, Pflegecheck is completely free for families and care-dependent persons. We are funded by care providers who wish to present their facilities on our platform – not by seekers. You can use our search, calculators, and all information without registration or hidden costs.
You can register in just a few steps:
1. Click "Create Account" and choose "Become a Provider" or "Become an Outfitter"
2. Select the right package (Basic is free)
3. Create your listing with your facility data
4. After activation, you are immediately visible to care seekers
You can also claim an existing imported listing if your facility is already listed on our platform.
**Reach:** Your facility is found in our nationwide search – also via Google.
**Inquiries:** Care seekers can contact you directly via the platform.
**Dashboard:** Manage your listings, reviews, job postings and bookings centrally.
**Analytics:** See how often your profile is viewed and where your visitors come from.
**Flexible packages:** From the free Basic package to the Business package with premium placement.
Official Sources
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG)
Official information on care insurance
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis)
Care statistics and key figures
BMG: Online-Ratgeber Pflege
Practical tips and information
Sozialgesetzbuch XI (SGB XI)
Legal basis of care insurance
All information is based on official sources. As of: February 2026.