The care allowance is an important social benefit that provides financial support for many people in need of care and their families. It is paid monthly by the long-term care insurance fund and is intended to make it easier for relatives or friends to provide care at home. But when exactly will the care allowance be paid out in 2024? You can find all the relevant information here:
Entitlement and application
People who are cared for at home by relatives or friends and have at least care level two are entitled to care allowance. This entitlement exists regardless of whether you have private or statutory insurance. It is advisable to submit the initial application as early as possible, as the care allowance is paid retroactively by the care insurance fund up to the date of application. It is even possible for people who are in hospital or a rehabilitation facility to submit an urgent application to the relevant care insurance fund via the care service.
If you wish to receive the care allowance, you should therefore speak to the doctors treating you, care advice agencies and/or social services at an early stage. These agencies are your first point of contact when it comes to applying for care allowance.
Amount of the care allowance
The amount of the care allowance depends on the care level of the person in need of care. The higher the care level, the higher the care benefit. As a rule, the person in need of care can choose whether they want to receive care benefits in kind or care allowance. Care benefits in kind are professional care, while a combination benefit allows for both care benefits in kind and care allowance.
| Degree of care | Care allowance per month |
| Care level 1 | no claim |
| Care level 2 | 347 Euro |
| Care level 3 | 599 Euro |
| Care level 4 | 800 Euro |
| Care level 5 | 990 Euro |
Payment dates for care allowance 2024
It is understandable that many recipients of care benefits need to know exactly when the care allowance will arrive in their account. The care allowance is usually paid out by the care insurance funds by the first working day of the respective calendar month. Here is an overview of the payment dates for 2024:
- January 2024: Tuesday, 02.01.2024
- February 2024: Thursday, 01.02.2024
- March 2024: Friday, 01.03.2024
- April 2024: Tuesday, 02.04.2024
- May 2024: Thursday, 02.05.2024
- June 2024: Monday, 03.06.2024
- July 2024: Monday, 01.07.2024
- August 2024: Thursday, 01.08.2024
- September 2024: Monday, 02.09.2024
- October 2024: Tuesday, 01.10.2024
- November 2024: 01. or 04.11.2024
- December 2024: Monday, 02.12.2024
Use of the care allowance
It is important to know that the care allowance is not transferred to the caregiver by the care insurance fund, but to the person in need of care themselves. This person is then free to decide how to use the money and can also pass it on to the caregiver if necessary. However, a power of attorney is required for the caregiver to have direct access to the money.
Further information on care allowance
What is care allowance? What does care allowance mean?
Care allowance is a financial benefit that is available to people with care needs. It is intended to cover the costs of care and enable those in need of care to live in dignity in their own home.
Who is entitled to care allowance?
Not everyone who is in need of care is automatically entitled to care allowance. There are certain criteria that must be met in order to receive this benefit. As a rule, entitlement is based on the degree of need for care. From a care level 2 are entitled to care allowance. A care level 1 is unfortunately not sufficient.
What types of care allowance are there?
There are different types of care allowance, depending on the situation and needs. These include, for example, care allowance for children with disabilities, care allowance for adults and care allowance for people with dementia-related illnesses.
How do I apply for care allowance?
Before you can apply for care allowance, certain requirements must be met. As a rule, this includes a medical assessment of the need for care and an assessment of the individual care requirements.
The application process
The application process for care allowance can vary depending on the federal state and health insurance fund. In general, an application form must be completed and submitted together with the required documents. This is followed by an assessment by the long-term care insurance fund and, if applicable, the MDK.
How is the amount of care allowance determined?
The amount of the care allowance depends on the degree of care required and the respective care level. As a rule, the higher the care level, the higher the care allowance. See our overview of the amount of care allowance at the beginning of this article.
What can you do with the care allowance?
The care allowance is generally earmarked for a specific purpose and is intended to cover the costs of care. However, it can also be used for other purposes related to care, such as aids or support services.
Restrictions on use
However, there are also restrictions on the use of the care allowance. For example, it is not permitted to simply give the care allowance as a gift or spend it on non-care-related purposes.
Combination with other services
The care allowance can usually be combined with other benefits such as the care benefit in kind or the care allowance. This is to ensure that those in need of care receive the best possible support.
Tax aspects of the care allowance
In certain cases, the care allowance may have tax implications. It is therefore advisable to find out about the tax aspects of the care allowance in advance.
Receiving care allowance through your health insurance is exempt from tax. This exemption also applies if you pass the care allowance on to a family member who supports you. This transfer is considered to be the fulfillment of a "moral duty" to provide care ([mfn]§3 Income Tax Act (EStG)[/mfn]) and remains tax-free.
However, if there is no family relationship with the carer or if this is not seen as a moral obligation towards you, the tax exemption does not apply. In such cases, the transferred care allowance is treated as taxable income of the caregiver.
All income must be reported to the tax authorities. The tax office will then determine the extent of any taxation.
How long does it take for a care allowance application to be processed?
The processing time for a care allowance application can vary depending on the federal state and health insurance fund. However, it usually takes a few weeks for a decision to be made on the application. The basic principle is: the sooner, the better. Care allowance is also paid retroactively and, depending on how busy the health insurance funds are, applications can even take months.
Can I apply for care allowance retroactively?
Yes, under certain conditions it is possible to apply for care allowance retroactively. This is the case, for example, if the need for care already existed at an earlier point in time but the application was only submitted later.
Is there an income limit for entitlement to care allowance?
No, in principle there is no income limit for entitlement to care allowance. However, the income of the person in need of care can have an impact on the amount of care allowance.
What happens if the need for care changes?
If the need for care changes, this should be reported to the care insurance fund immediately. Depending on the change, the amount of care allowance may also change.
Can care allowance recipients move into a care home?
Yes, care allowance recipients can also move into a care home. In this case, however, the care allowance is usually waived, as the care costs are covered by the residential care home.
