The care allowance was increased in 2024. Depending on the level of care, those in need of care now receive up to 45 euros more. What has changed in January?
Deborah Dillmann
12.08.2024 | Status: 06:53 a.m.
In Germany, the life expectancy of women and men continues to rise. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this also means that the ageing population in Germany is increasing and the number of people in need of care who are impaired in their independence and need help in their everyday lives is growing from year to year.
According to Destatis, around four out of five people in need of care are cared for at home, i.e. around 80 percent. In the majority of cases, care is provided by family carers. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the 2023 care reform is intended to ensure that this group receives more and easier support, and that people in need of care who are cared for at home receive higher benefits.
The increase in nursing care allowance on January 1, 2024 was aimed at both points, because people in need of care often pass the benefit on partially or completely to their caring relatives.
Nursing care allowance: How much money are people in need of care currently entitled to?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, in order to be entitled to care allowance, people in need of care must be cared for at home by relatives or other voluntary caregivers and must also have at least care level 2. What people in need of care then do with the money is up to them, but it is often passed on to the caring relatives as a token of appreciation.
Read also
Care
Care benefits in kind 2024: How much money is available?
By the way: If the care is partly provided by an outpatient care service, the service can be combined with outpatient care benefits in kind and there is a right to a proportionate care allowance. And after the death of the person in need of care, the care allowance is paid out to the caring relatives in the month of death – for example, to settle outstanding bills.
In 2023, eligible people in need of care received the following monthly benefits from the nursing care fund, depending on their care level from 1 to 5:
Care allowance increase: How much more money will people in need of care receive from 2024?
A lot has changed in care since 2024. This includes the increase in care allowance. According to the care portal, it was introduced on 1 January 2024 pflege.de adjusted or increased for the first time since 2017. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the benefit will then increase by five percent. This is how much care allowance is now available to those entitled:
After the increase in 2024, the care allowance will be adjusted again on 1 January 2025. According to pflege.de by 4.5 percent. This would have the following effects for those in need of care:
After this increase, the care allowance will be adjusted to reflect price developments every three years. This means that the next benefit adjustment will take place on January 1, 2028.
By the way: If the benefits of the nursing care fund, for example the nursing care allowance, as well as income and assets are not sufficient to cover the nursing care costs, those affected can receive “nursing care assistance” under certain conditions.
