Care allowance (Pflegegeld) 2026: what German care insurance pays per grade
Editorial team caalyx.eu · Updated 20 October 2026
In 2026 the German care allowance (Pflegegeld) is €347 a month at care grade 2, €599 at grade 3, €800 at grade 4 and €990 at grade 5. It is paid to people who are cared for at home by relatives, friends or other unpaid carers (§ 37 SGB XI, Book XI of the German Social Code). There is no care allowance at care grade 1.
Care allowance per care grade
| Care grade | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - |
| 2 | €347 | €4,164 |
| 3 | €599 | €7,188 |
| 4 | €800 | €9,600 |
| 5 | €990 | €11,880 |
These amounts have been unchanged since 1 January 2025. The money goes to the person who needs care, who decides how to use it, for instance to thank the family members who provide care.
Who is eligible
- Care grade 2 to 5: the care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) sets the grade after an assessment. Our guide to care grades explains how this works.
- Care at home: the person lives in their own home or with family, not in a care home.
- Care is arranged: relatives or other carers provide the necessary personal care, support and help with the household in a suitable way.
- Application: you apply to the care insurance fund, usually together with the application for a care grade.
If entitlement starts or ends during a month, the allowance is paid pro rata, with each month counted as 30 days. If the person dies, the allowance is paid until the end of that month.
Mandatory advisory visits
Anyone who receives only the care allowance must request a regular advisory visit at home (Beratungsbesuch, § 37(3) SGB XI):
| Care grade | Advisory visit |
|---|---|
| 1 | entitled to one every six months (optional) |
| 2 and 3 | required every six months |
| 4 and 5 | required at least every six months, every three months possible |
The care insurance fund pays for the visit, which is carried out by an approved home care service or a recognised advice centre. Until 31 March 2027, every second visit can take place by video on request; the first one has to be in person. If a mandatory visit is missed, the fund must reduce the allowance and, if it happens again, withdraw it. Read more in our guide to care advice and advisory visits.
Combining the allowance with a home care service
If family care is not enough, you can also use a professional home care service (ambulanter Pflegedienst). The combination benefit (Kombinationsleistung) then applies: the allowance falls by the percentage of benefits in kind you use. If you use 60 % of the benefits in kind at grade 3, for example, you still receive 40 % of the allowance, which is €239.60. The guide to benefits in kind and the combination benefit has worked examples. You can look for providers near you in our home care directory.
Absences and breaks
| Situation | What happens to the allowance |
|---|---|
| Short-term care or respite care | half of the previous allowance, each for up to eight weeks per calendar year |
| Inpatient hospital stay or rehabilitation | continues for the first eight weeks |
| Stay in the EU, EEA or Switzerland | continues |
| Temporary stay in another country | continues for up to eight weeks per calendar year |
How to arrange cover when the main carer is on holiday or ill, and what the fund pays for it, is explained in our guide to respite and short-term care.
Tax and social security for carers
Tax: the allowance is tax-free for the person receiving care. If it is passed on to relatives who provide care, it is also tax-free for them up to the amount of the allowance (§ 3 No. 36 Income Tax Act, EStG). Family carers can also claim a carer’s lump sum (Pflege-Pauschbetrag) in their German tax return: €600 at grade 2, €1,100 at grade 3 and €1,800 at grade 4 or 5 (§ 33b(6) EStG). One condition is that they receive no income for the care; a passed-on allowance generally counts as income here.
Pension: the care insurance fund pays statutory pension contributions for carers who look after someone with grade 2 or higher for at least ten hours a week, spread over at least two days, on an unpaid basis, and who work no more than 30 hours a week (§ 44 SGB XI). Carers are also covered by statutory accident insurance while providing care. The contribution level depends on the care grade and the type of benefit.
Planned reform
With the Care Reorganisation Act (PNOG, cabinet draft of 30 September 2026), the government plans changes from 2027. According to the information so far, this includes regular increases in benefit amounts from 2028, each on 1 July. The law has not been passed yet. Until it is enacted, the amounts above apply.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the advisory visit: the fund does not always send a reminder in time, so put the dates in your diary.
- Applying too late: benefits are paid from the month of application at the earliest, so apply straight away, even informally.
- Not reporting changes: a move into a care home or a longer stay abroad must be reported to the fund.
Legal source
This guide does not replace individual care, tax or legal advice. The decision and information from your care insurance fund are binding.
Frequently asked questions
From which care grade is the care allowance paid?
From care grade 2. At grade 1 there is no care allowance, but there is the relief amount of €131 a month.
Is the care allowance taxable?
It is tax-free for the person receiving care. If it is passed on to family carers, it generally stays tax-free for them up to the amount of the allowance (§ 3 No. 36 Income Tax Act).
Is the allowance paid during a hospital stay?
Yes, it continues for the first eight weeks of inpatient hospital treatment or rehabilitation (§ 34(2) SGB XI).
Is the allowance paid if we spend time abroad?
Within the EU, the EEA and Switzerland it continues to be paid. In other countries it is paid for temporary stays of up to eight weeks per calendar year.