🧭 Wegweiser Family carers

15 topic pages for anyone caring for a relative at home – and for those who advise them. The focus is on your own rights as a carer: towards your employer, the care insurance fund and the pension insurance. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and figures.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain language. Below it you will find the most important deadlines, typical mistakes and a collapsible specialist section "In depth" for advisory work, with legal bases and figures.

Important distinction: These pages cover your rights as a carer – leave from work, protection against dismissal, your own cover in the pension and accident insurance. Benefits to which the person in need of care is entitled (applying for a care level, their own pension, advance healthcare directive) are covered in detail by the Wegweiser module Seniors. As of September 2026. Where a figure could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. individual euro amounts or practical values), this is expressly noted on the relevant page rather than guessed. The information does not replace legal advice.

Frequently searched

🕐 Care leave (PflegeZG) 📅 Family care leave (FPfZG) 🚨 Short-term absence from work in an acute care situation 💶 Care allowance, benefits in kind and combined benefits 🔄 Respite care (§ 39 SGB XI) 🏦 Pension insurance for carers 💰 Parental maintenance and the Angehörigen-Entlastungsgesetz (Relatives Relief Act) 📞 Advice and contact points for family carers

All topic areas

🧭Overview and basicsGetting started: your rights as a family carer at a glance.1 topic 🕐Care and work: time offShort-term absence from work, care leave and family care leave.3 topics ⚖️Protection against dismissal and employment lawProtection against dismissal and lasting compatibility of care and work.2 topics 💶Care level and long-term care insurance benefitsAssessment, care allowance, respite care, relief amount.4 topics 🛡️Your own social securityPension insurance and accident insurance for carers.2 topics 💰Maintenance and financesParental maintenance and the Angehörigen-Entlastungsgesetz (Relatives Relief Act).1 topic 🧠Health and self-careMental strain, self-help and recovery for carers.1 topic 📞Advice and contact pointsWho advises and supports family carers.1 topic

🧭 Overview and basics

Getting started: your rights as a family carer at a glance.

🧭Rights of family carers at a glanceIf you care for a relative at home, you have your own rights towards your employer, the care insurance fund and the pension insurance – regardless of the benefits to which the person in need of care is entitled.

🕐 Care and work: time off

Short-term absence from work, care leave and family care leave.

🚨Short-term absence from work in an acute care situationIf a care situation arises suddenly, you may stay away from work for up to 10 working days to organise care – with care support allowance as wage replacement. 🕐Care leave (PflegeZG)Care leave lets you take full or partial leave from work for up to 6 months to care for a close relative at home – but a genuine legal entitlement exists only with larger employers. 📅Family care leave (FPfZG)Family care leave allows reduced working hours for up to 24 months to care for a relative, with an interest-free federal loan to bridge the loss of income.

⚖️ Protection against dismissal and employment law

Protection against dismissal and lasting compatibility of care and work.

🛑Protection against dismissal during care leave and family care leaveIf you announce care leave or family care leave, you are specially protected against dismissal from that point – the employer can give notice only in exceptional cases with the consent of the authority. 🧩Combining care and work in everyday lifeNot every care situation fits into care leave or family care leave. Part-time work, flexible working hours and working from home are often the more practical long-term solution.

💶 Care level and long-term care insurance benefits

Assessment, care allowance, respite care, relief amount.

🩺Care level assessment: process and objectionYour relative's care level is the basis for almost all entitlements – including your own as a carer. This is how the assessment works and how to lodge an objection. 💶Care allowance, benefits in kind and combined benefitsCare allowance, benefits in kind or a combination of both: these benefits belong to the relative in need of care, but largely determine how home care is organised. 🔄Respite care (§ 39 SGB XI)If you as a carer are prevented from providing care – for example by holiday or illness – the care insurance fund pays for replacement care. Since July 2025, a joint annual amount with short-term care applies for this. 🧺Relief amount (§ 45b SGB XI)The monthly relief amount of currently €131 funds everyday support such as domestic help or care and companionship services – and thus directly relieves you as a family carer.

🛡️ Your own social security

Pension insurance and accident insurance for carers.

🏦Pension insurance for carersIf you care for a relative without pay to a significant extent, you can build up your own pension entitlements without paying contributions yourself – the care insurance fund pays them. 🦺Accident insurance for carersAs a non-professional carer you are covered free of charge by statutory accident insurance when caring for a relative – for example in the event of a fall while providing care.

💰 Maintenance and finances

Parental maintenance and the Angehörigen-Entlastungsgesetz (Relatives Relief Act).

💰Parental maintenance and the Angehörigen-Entlastungsgesetz (Relatives Relief Act)Since 2020, adult children have to be drawn on for their parents' social assistance costs only if their own gross annual income exceeds €100,000.

🧠 Health and self-care

Mental strain, self-help and recovery for carers.

🧠Mental strain and self-help for family carersHome care often takes a heavy toll. There are specific, often little-known entitlements to relief, spa treatment and advice aimed specifically at the carer themselves.

📞 Advice and contact points

Who advises and supports family carers.

📞Advice and contact points for family carersCare counselling, care support centres and care insurance funds: who is responsible for what when you as a family carer don't know where to turn?

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.