Family caregivers in Germany make an invaluable contribution to society. However, many people are unaware that their commitment to the family can also have an impact on their own pension. Anyone who cares for a relative with care level 2 or higher can receive so-called pension points for care - and thus secure their future pension.
In this magazin , you will find out how you can protect your pension as a family carer, what requirements you need to meet and what you should pay attention to when applying.
What does "pension points for care" mean?
Pension points (also known as earnings points) form the basis for calculating the statutory pension. They reflect how long and to what extent pension insurance contributions have been paid. Caring relativeswho look after a person in need of care can earn pension points under certain conditions - even if they do not make any contributions from a regular employment relationship.
Why is the pension important for family carers?
Many people put their careers on hold or give them up completely to look after family members in need of care. Without compensation, there is a risk of loss of pension provision as a result of caring for relatives if the amount of care required is too high, as pension insurance contributions. It is therefore essential that carers are also protected under pension law for their care work.
Who is considered a family caregiver?
Family caregivers are people who do not care for a person in need of care for gainful employment, but out of family or emotional attachment:
- Children
- Spouse
- Parents
- Siblings
- Close friends or neighbor
The decisive factor is not the family relationship, but the actual care relationship in the home environment, so care provided by family members does not always have to be provided by a family member.
Caregivers: Definition and role in the system
According to § 19 SGB XI, a caregiver is
[mfn]§ 19 SGB XI[/mfn]
a person who cares for a person in need of care in their home environment for at least 10 hours per week, spread over at least two days. They may not be employed for more than 30 hours per week.
People in need of care - Who is affected?
People are considered to be in need of care if they require help to cope with everyday life due to physical, mental or psychological limitations. This is determined by assigning a care level. People are recognized as being in need of care from care level 1.
Requirements for pension points for nursing care
In order to receive pension points through care, certain conditions must be met, which are clearly defined in the Social Security Code XI. First of all, the person receiving care must have at least care level 2 - with care level 1 there is no entitlement to pension insurance contributions. The care must also be provided in the home environment - i.e. in the person's own home, in the household of the person in need of care or in a shared household.
Furthermore, the carer does not have to provide care for gainful employment, i.e. for free or for a small fee. Carers who work for a living, such as those employed by a care service, are not entitled to these pension points from the long-term care fund. In addition, the care work must amount to at least 10 hours per week, spread over at least two days, in order to be recognized as regular care work.
Another key point is the limit of a maximum of 30 hours of gainful employment per week: anyone who works in addition to providing care may not exceed this amount - otherwise the care is no longer considered non-gainful employment.
If all these requirements are met, the care insurance fund of the person in need of care pays the caregiver's pension insurance contributions - thus securing valuable pension entitlements.
How does care affect pensions?
Caring for a relative is not only a personal and emotional task, but can also have a direct impact on your own pension provision. Many family carers reduce their employment or give it up completely - with corresponding consequences for their pension entitlements. In order to compensate for these losses, the German social security system provides pension cover for carers under certain conditions.
Pension entitlement through care time
During the care period, pension entitlements arise - comparable to an employment relationship subject to compulsory insurance. This means that anyone who regularly cares for a person in need of care and meets certain requirements is treated as if they were working in a job subject to social insurance contributions. In this case, the care insurance fund pays the contributions to the statutory pension insurance and the care period counts as a compulsory contribution period.
As a result, pension points are credited, which later have a direct impact on the amount of your own old-age pension. For many family caregivers who reduce or completely give up their gainful employment, this is an important building block for securing their own retirement provision. However, it is crucial that the care activity is reported to the care insurance fund in good time and that all requirements - such as care degree, scope of care and maximum working hours - are met.
Recognition of the care period as a contribution period
The care period is recognized as a compulsory contribution period and therefore counts towards the minimum insurance period for the old-age pension.
Contributions to pension insurance by the long-term care insurance fund
The long-term care insurance fund pays the pension insurance contributions if the requirements are met.
Amount of pension contributions and pension points
The amount of the contributions and thus the pension points depends on the care degree and the care allowance received.
Differences according to care level and type of benefit
- Care level 2approx. 0.3 pension points per year
- Care level 3approx. 0.6 pension points per year
- Care level 4approx. 0.9 pension points per year
- Care level 5over 1.0 pension point per year
Example calculation for pension points
If you care for a person with care level 4 for around 35 hours per week, you can earn around 0.9 pension points per year. With 5 years of care, this results in almost 4.5 pension points, which currently means around 150 euros more monthly pension.
Retroactive pension points for nursing care - is that possible?
Many family carers initially take on their responsible task spontaneously and without comprehensive knowledge of their social security entitlements. Only after weeks or months do they ask themselves the legitimate question of whether they can also be protected under pension law for the care they have already provided - i.e. whether retroactive crediting of pension points is possible.
Why is retroactive crediting excluded?
The clear answer is: No, retroactive recognition is generally excluded. The legal basis stipulates that pension insurance contributions are only paid from the date on which the care insurance fund was informed of the care relationship and the requirements were checked and confirmed.
Long-term care insurance therefore does not pay the pension insurance contributions retroactively, but only from the date of formal notification of the care activity. Even if the care has already been provided over a longer period of time and all requirements were met (e.g. care level 2, at least 10 hours per week, home care, no gainful employment over 30 hours), the pension insurance cannot take these periods into account retrospectively if they were not reported on time.
It is therefore particularly important to inform yourself in good time and to notify the care insurance fund as soon as you start providing care. Only then can the care insurance fund actually pay the pension insurance contributions and the entitlement to pension points become effective.
Application for recognition of pension points - explained step by step
Several formal steps are necessary for family caregivers to receive pension points for their care work. The applications and notifications should be submitted early and in full - because the entitlement to pension contributions only begins when the carer is officially registered with the care insurance fund.
1. apply for a care degree from the medical service
Before pension points can be credited, a care degree must be applied for from the care insurance fund of the person in need of care. degree of care be applied for. For this purpose, an assessment appointment is made by the medical service (for those with statutory insurance) or MEDICPROOF (for those with private insurance).
Important: For pension entitlements, at least care level 2 must be available.
2. apply for care allowance from the care insurance fund
If a care degree has been recognized care allowance can be applied for. This is a prerequisite for the payment of pension insurance contributions, as it shows that the care is provided in a home environment and by non-professional carers.
3. report the caregiver and fill out the questionnaire
As soon as it has been determined who will provide the care, this person must be registered as a caregiver with the care insurance fund. The long-term care insurance fund then sends the so-called:
The questionnaire for the payment of social security contributions
This questionnaire is crucial: it enables the long-term care insurance fund to check whether all the requirements for compulsory pension insurance have been met. The questionnaire contains information on:
- Scope and duration of care (e.g. hours per week)
- Gainful employment of the caregiver (maximum 30 hours/week permitted)
- Start of care
- Number of people in need of care
- Living situation and care environment
The questionnaire must be filled out completely and truthfully and returned to the long-term care insurance fund as soon as possible. Missing or late information will result in pension claims not being recognized.
When does the entitlement to pension points begin?
The entitlement to pension insurance contributions only begins on the day on which:
- the caregiver is registered with the care insurance fund,
- all formal requirements are met, and
- the completed questionnaire is available.
Tip:
Get help with the application from a care advice center, the care support point or directly from the German Pension Insurance. They will help you fill out the forms and clarify any questions you may have about pension entitlements and possible combinations with employment or other care relationships.
The importance of long-term care insurance and German pension insurance
These two institutions work closely together. The long-term care insurance fund is responsible for paying the contributions, while the German Pension Insurance Fund is responsible for crediting the pension points. As soon as a carer is registered with the long-term care insurance fund and all requirements are met, the long-term care insurance fund pays the pension insurance contributions directly to the German Pension Insurance Fund.
The care periods are documented there as compulsory contribution periods and are included in the calculation of the later old-age pension. Communication between the two offices takes place automatically - the only important thing is that the care is reported correctly and in good time.
Protection and social security benefits
In addition to pension insurance, family carers are also covered by accident insurance. Sickness benefit and unemployment benefit can also be received under certain conditions.
Frequently asked questions about pension points for family carers
Can I also receive pension points for caring for neighbors?
Yes - as long as the care is not provided for gainful employment and the formal requirements are met, this is possible.
What happens if I provide private care as a nursing professional?
Nursing staff who provide care as part of an employment relationship are considered to be gainfully employed - they do not receive pension points via the long-term care insurance fund.
How does the care period affect the minimum insurance period?
Care periods are regarded as compulsory contribution periods and count in full towards the qualifying period for a statutory pension.
Who pays the pension insurance contributions?
The care fund of the person in need of care pays the contributions directly to the German Pension Insurance.
Differences for people with statutory and private long-term care insurance
For privately insured persons, private compulsory long-term care insurance takes over this task - however, applications often have to be submitted additionally.
What happens if there are several people in need of care?
If you care for several relatives, you can claim several periods of care - however, the number of pension points that can be credited is capped. The long-term care insurance fund checks the burden individually.
What do I need to bear in mind if I work while providing care?
If someone provides care and works more than 30 hours a week, they lose their entitlement to pension points. The care period is then no longer taken into account.
Care level 1 - Is there an entitlement to pension points?
No. Care level 1 is not sufficient to justify pension entitlements. The care insurance fund only pays pension insurance contributions from care level 2.
Conclusion: Pension for family carers - opportunities and limits
The system of pension points for family caregivers offers important social security for people who care for their loved ones with great personal commitment - often over many months or years. This form of support not only relieves the burden on the healthcare system, but also deserves social and financial recognition.
If you know the legal requirements and inform yourself in good time, you can derive specific pension entitlements from care work - a significant advantage, especially if you have to reduce your gainful employment due to care. To ensure that this period of care has a positive effect on your own old-age pension later on, it is crucial to involve the care insurance fund at an early stage, complete all applications correctly and provide all necessary evidence, such as the care degree certificate or information on the weekly duration of care.
In addition, family carers should also remember to keep themselves regularly informed about changes to the care system, as legal reforms or adjustments to care benefits can have a direct impact on pension entitlement. Talking to advice centers, care advisors or directly to the German Pension Insurance can also help to avoid mistakes and make the best possible claims.
This makes it clear that care is not only a personal task, but also a socially recognized achievement that literally "pays off" - in the form of pension points, social security and the certainty of having made a valuable contribution.
