The €131 relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag): what it covers and how to claim it
Editorial team caalyx.eu · Updated 20 October 2026
The relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag) is up to €131 a month and is available to everyone in Germany who receives care at home, starting at care grade 1 (§ 45b SGB XI). The money is earmarked: the care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) refunds it against invoices for day and night care, short-term care, home care services and recognised everyday support services. Unused amounts can be carried over to the following calendar half-year.
Key figures
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Per month | up to €131 |
| Per calendar year | up to €1,572 |
| From care grade | 1 |
| Application needed | no, refund against receipts |
| Carry-over | the year’s balance until the end of the following calendar half-year |
What the relief amount can be used for
The law lists four purposes. The aim is to give family carers a break and to help the person in need of care stay independent in daily life.
| Purpose | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Day or night care | own share for meals, accommodation, investment costs | see day care costs |
| Short-term care | own share during a stay | can also be used at grade 1 |
| Home care services | support, help in the household | at grades 2 to 5 not for personal care such as washing or dressing |
| Recognised everyday support services | everyday companions, care groups, recognised household help | recognition under state law required |
At care grade 1, the relief amount may also be used for help with personal care from a home care service. As there are no benefits in kind at grade 1, this is often the only way to have the care insurance fund contribute to a home care service.
What is not refunded
- Private help without recognition, such as a neighbour who cleans without being registered. Whether and how neighbourly help can be recognised is decided by each federal state.
- Services already fully paid from another budget.
- Prices above those for comparable services from approved care providers.
Your care insurance fund or a local care support centre (Pflegestützpunkt) can tell you which services are recognised in your area. Our guide to everyday support services gives an overview of the options.
How to claim
- Choose a recognised provider: ask whether the provider is recognised under state law or approved as a home care service.
- Get an invoice: the receipt must show which of the four types of service the costs relate to.
- Submit it: you pay the invoice and send it to the care insurance fund. The fund refunds up to €131 a month, or up to the amount you have saved up.
- Direct billing: many providers offer to bill the fund directly. For this you usually sign an assignment form (Abtretungserklärung), so you do not have to pay upfront.
No separate application is required before first use. The entitlement exists as soon as a care grade has been awarded and care takes place at home.
Saving up and carrying over
You do not have to use the €131 every month. The amounts build up over the calendar year. Anything not used by 31 December can be carried over to the following calendar half-year, so until 30 June of the next year. After that, the balance is lost.
Example: in 2026 you use only €600 of the relief amount. You can use the remaining €972 until 30 June 2027, for instance for short-term care or your own share of day care costs.
Combining with other benefits
The relief amount is paid on top of all other benefits. It does not reduce the care allowance or benefits in kind. In addition, from grade 2 up to 40 % of the benefits-in-kind budget can be converted for recognised everyday support, although this is offset against the care allowance. Details are in our guide to benefits in kind and the combination benefit. The care benefits calculator shows your overall entitlement.
Planned reform: dropping it at care grade 1
With the Care Reorganisation Act (PNOG, cabinet draft of 30 September 2026), the German government plans to drop the relief amount for care grade 1 from 2027. The law has not been passed and its content and timing may change. Until it is enacted, today’s rules apply. If you have care grade 1 and a saved-up balance, keep an eye on developments and ask your fund whether transitional rules will apply.
Common mistakes
- Using a provider without recognition: check the recognition before the first appointment.
- Missing the carry-over deadline: balances from the previous year are lost after 30 June.
- Receipts without the type of service: if it is unclear what the costs were for, the fund may ask questions and the refund will be delayed.
Legal source
This guide does not replace individual care or legal advice. The decision and information from your care insurance fund are binding.
Frequently asked questions
Is the €131 paid out to me?
No. The relief amount is only refunded against receipts for recognised services. Unlike the care allowance, it is not paid out for free use.
Can I use the relief amount for a cleaner?
Yes, if the household help is recognised as an everyday support service under the law of your federal state. A private cleaner without recognition is not refunded.
By when do I have to use the money?
Anything not used in a calendar year can be carried over to the following calendar half-year, so until the end of June of the next year.
Does the relief amount apply at care grade 1?
Yes, at the moment it does, and at grade 1 it can even be used for help with personal care from a home care service. A planned reform would drop it for grade 1 from 2027.