For many family caregivers, caring for a family member can cause a great deal of physical and emotional stress. Care assistance is often sought to provide support. In order to relieve the affected relatives and the person in need of care, there are care benefits in kind.
Every insured person is entitled to these from care level 2. Insured persons are therefore entitled to these care benefits in kind or the freely available care allowance. The support provided by the care benefit in kind covers various services (including household help and everyday assistance) which benefit the person in need of care and are provided by an outpatient care service, home help service providers or care workers.
What is the care benefit in kind?
Professional help with home or physical care, as well as care and/or household help. domestic help is referred to as a long-term care benefit in accordance with Section 36 SGB XI. This also includes guidance for those in need of care and carers, for example to prevent injuries and to learn correct and gentle lifting techniques.
The prerequisites for this are that the person in need of care is cared for at home and has a care level of 2-5. People with care level 1 are not separately entitled to care benefits in kind and care allowance, but can still apply for home help from care level 1. Contact us and we will be happy to check your entitlement without obligation. Simply and conveniently use the contact form on the right. The costs are covered by the care insurance fund up to the maximum amount corresponding to the care level.
Entitlement to care benefits in kind
Anyone who can prove that they have a care level 2 to 5, are insured and receive care at home is entitled to care benefits in kind. Home care not only describes the care in the home of the person in need of care, but also care that takes place at the carer's home.
The costs for care services are settled directly between the service provider and the care insurance company. If the costs incurred exceed the benefit amount of the respective care level, the remaining costs must be borne by the patient.
However, if the benefit amount is not used in full, the remaining amount can be used for other purposes via the combination benefit or the conversion entitlement.
The difference between care allowance and care benefits in kind
At first glance, the care benefit in kind and the care allowance are very similar. Both are benefits that every insured person with care degree 2 to 5 is entitled to. However, there are differences in the amount, the method of payment and the purpose of the money.
The care benefit in kind finances everyday support from professional carers. This money is not paid out monthly, but is tied to the service and is only used when costs are incurred as a result of the service.
The care allowance is a monthly payment that goes directly to the person in need of care. The insured person is not bound by any conditions when the money is paid out. It is paid out for as long as care is provided at home.
Combination service
The combination benefit can be applied for if the person in need of care is unsure about the extent to which they would like to make use of long-term care benefits in kind.
In the case of the combined benefit, there is a percentage settlement of the care benefit in kind in relation to the care allowance. For example, if 30% of the budget of the care benefit in kind is used, 70% of the care allowance is paid to the person in need of care.
Conversion claim
It is also possible for those in need of care to make use of their conversion entitlement. This enables them to use up to 40% of the care benefits that would otherwise remain unused for care and respite services.
This means that even with a higher care level from 2, the care benefit in kind can be used to finance household help or hourly care, for example.
The amount of the monthly long-term care benefit in kind
How much money is available to you through the care benefit in kind depends on the care degree. People in need of care from care level 2 are entitled to care benefits in kind.
Unlike the care allowance, the care insurance fund does not transfer the money to the account of the person in need of care, but provides support for various services, ranging from care measures to physical care measures and other services offered by a recognized provider.
These services are paid for via the long-term care insurance fund. This was last increased in 2025.
- Care level 2: 796 euros
- Care level 3: 1,497 euros
- Care level 4: 1,859 euros
- Care level 5: 2,299 euros
Long-term care benefits in kind for care level 1
With a care level 1 there is no entitlement to care benefits in kind. However, the relief amount amounting to 131 euros can be used for body-related care measures and self-care.
This is a special regulation. In care grades 2 - 5, this benefit can only be used for care and respite measures.
Long-term care benefits in kind for care level 2
If you have a recognized care level 2 the care benefit in kind amounts to 796 euros per month. This means that the long-term care insurance fund pays for services such as care and support from professional care staff up to this amount.
Long-term care benefits in kind for care level 3
If you have a recognized care level 3 the care benefit in kind amounts to 1,497 euros per month. This means that the long-term care insurance fund will cover services such as care and support from professional care staff up to this amount.
Long-term care benefits in kind for care level 4
If you have a recognized care level 4, the care benefit in kind amounts to EUR 1,859 per month. This means that the long-term care insurance fund covers services such as care and support from professional caregivers up to this amount.
Long-term care benefits in kind for care level 5
If there is a recognized care level 5 the care benefit in kind amounts to 2,299 euros per month. This means that the long-term care insurance fund will cover services such as care and support from professional caregivers up to this amount.
Apply for care benefits in kind
The application for long-term care benefits in kind must be submitted to the relevant long-term care insurance fund. If you are not sure where your care insurance fund is located, you can ask your health insurance fund for more information.
The first application is informal. A letter or email to the long-term care insurance fund is sufficient. The long-term care insurance fund will then reply with an individual application.
When does long-term care insurance start to cover the costs of care services?
If there is a care degree, the care benefits in kind are paid retroactively from the day of the application. However, the costs must be borne by the patient until the care benefits in kind are approved.
If no care level has been determined beforehand, this must be applied for. To do this, an assessor comes and awards points for the person's need for care. He will get an overview of the person's independence and care needs. If the level of care is rejected, an appeal can be lodged against this decision.
What counts as long-term care benefits in kind?
Although the name implies a benefit in kind in the form of an object, the care benefit in kind is a service provided by an outpatient care service.
The person in need of care should make use of these services in order to maintain their independence. However, not all support from the outpatient care service necessarily constitutes an outpatient care service.
Body-related care measures
- Body care
- Help with dressing and undressing
- Assistance with eating
- Training the ability to move
Support services
- Psychosocial support
- Everyday life
- Maintaining social contacts
- Training of cognitive skills
Domestic help
- Shopping assistance (accompaniment, planning etc.)
- Cooking
- Laundry and ironing
- Cleaning work
Professional help
- Gentle postures during care
- Tips for applying for various long-term care insurance benefits.
Nursing care as a care benefit in kind
Medical care ordered by a doctor is not part of the long-term care benefits in kind and is therefore not billed through the long-term care insurance fund, but through the health insurance fund.
However, a different person does not have to be employed for the different areas of activity. However, it is important to ensure that the services are clearly separated in the billing.
Who can provide care services?
Care services may only be provided by a caregiver who has been recognized by the care insurance fund or who works for a recognized care service.
This means that care services cannot be provided by relatives or other private individuals. The services can only be billed to the care insurance fund if they are provided by recognized care professionals.
Long-term care benefits in kind without a care degree
The long-term care benefit in kind is only financed by the long-term care insurance fund if there is a care degree, so it is not possible to receive long-term care benefits in kind if there is no care degree.
Care services in assisted living
People in need of care who live in assisted living can claim care benefits in kind from care insurance. You are also entitled to care allowance.
Care services in nursing homes
Anyone who is cared for in a nursing home or other inpatient care facility is not entitled to long-term care benefits in kind from the long-term care insurance fund.
Are care benefits in kind taxed?
As the care benefits in kind are not paid out in cash, but the care service receives the payment from the care insurance fund, you do not pay tax on the care benefits in kind.
Further offers to help a person in need of care
People in need of care have further entitlements to various forms of support that they can claim.
- Allowance of 131 euros as part of the care and respite allowance: All people in need of care from care level 1 receive an allowance of 131 euros for various care and respite services. This will change in 2024 for the relief amount - Read more now!
- Co-payment-free care aids worth 42 euros: A person in need of care who is cared for at home can make use of co-payment-free care aids.
Long-term care benefits in kind: Everything at a glance
- Care benefits in kind can be applied for instead of care allowance.
- In order to be able to use all benefits effectively, a combination benefit or the conversion entitlement can be claimed.
- Care services can only be provided by recognized care staff from an outpatient care service or a recognized caregiver.
- The care of a person in need of long-term care by relatives cannot be financed by the long-term care insurance benefits in kind.
- Care must be provided at home.
