🔧 Barrier-free housing and conversion
In brief
Anyone who has to adapt their own home because of care needs or disability – for example a shower instead of a bathtub, ramps, wider doors or grab rails – can combine various subsidies for this. In cases of care needs, the care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) pays a subsidy for measures to improve the living environment of up to 4,180 euros per measure (not per year). This subsidy is available from care level (Pflegegrad) 1.
Independently of the Pflegekasse, housing adaptation can also be a benefit of integration assistance (social participation) if it is necessary for participation in community life. There are also funding programmes for barrier-free and age-appropriate building, whose exact conditions change and should therefore be checked directly with the funding body for the current position.
Step by step
- Clarify the need with specialistsGet advice from a housing advice centre or the care service on which structural measures are actually necessary.
- Apply BEFORE the measure startsThe Pflegekasse subsidy must be applied for before the conversion begins – applications made afterwards are generally rejected.
- Submit cost estimatesSubmit cost estimates from specialist firms; the Pflegekasse checks whether the measure is eligible for funding.
- Check further funding potsCheck in parallel whether integration assistance, KfW funding programmes or municipal subsidies also come into question – a combination is possible in principle but must be coordinated in the individual case.
- Carry out the conversion and settle the billAfter approval the conversion is carried out and the invoice is submitted to the Pflegekasse.
Deadlines
- Anyone who converts first and applies afterwards risks losing the Pflegekasse subsidy entirely – the application must be made before the measure starts.
- 4,180 euros is the maximum per measure, not automatically the amount actually approved – where several people in need of care live in the same household at the same time, the total subsidy can increase under the statutory rules; the Pflegekasse should check this in the individual case.
- Funding programmes such as KfW subsidies for age-appropriate conversion change in design, funding rates and availability more often than social laws do – the specific current conditions should be requested directly from the development bank or an energy/housing adviser rather than relying on older information.
- Whether a structural measure is financed through the Pflegekasse, integration assistance or both proportionally depends on the individual case – where responsibility is shared, early advice is worthwhile to avoid delays.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Care insurance subsidy, § 40 Abs. 4 SGB XI
The Pflegekasse can grant a subsidy of up to 4,180 euros per measure for measures to improve the individual living environment if this makes home care possible or considerably easier or restores the most independent possible way of living. The entitlement exists from care level (Pflegegrad) 1; the application must be made before the measure begins.
Examples of eligible measures
These include, among others, installing grab rails, non-slip floor coverings, removing door thresholds, installing a level-access shower, widening doors, permanently installed ramps and the disability-appropriate adaptation of furniture.
Integration assistance as a further basis for entitlement
Independently of long-term care insurance, housing adaptation may come into consideration as a social participation benefit under SGB IX Part 2 if it is necessary for participation in community life. The delimitation and possible combination of the two benefits in an individual case is governed, among other things, by the subsidiarity and cooperation relationship between the providers involved.
Additional funding programmes
In addition there are funding programmes for age-appropriate and barrier-free building (e.g. from the KfW) as well as some municipal or state-specific subsidies. Their specific programmes, funding amounts and requirements change at shorter intervals than social law; for current conditions the relevant funding body is the reliable source, not this page.
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