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🧺 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.

Relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag) § 45b SGB XI Approved provider Everyday support Saving up the relief amount

In brief

Every person in need of care with a recognised care level (including care level 1) is entitled to a monthly relief amount of currently €131 (as of 1.1.2025). It is earmarked for services supporting everyday life – such as domestic help, care groups or day care – and expressly also serves to relieve family carers.

Step by step

  1. Find approved providersAsk the care insurance fund or the care support centre (Pflegestützpunkt) about providers of everyday support in your region that are recognised under state law.
  2. Use the serviceCommission the provider; as a rule you submit the invoice to the care insurance fund for reimbursement (cost reimbursement principle).
  3. Save up unused amountsUnused monthly amounts can generally be saved up until 30 June of the following year and used after that.
  4. Combine with other benefitsCheck whether a combination with respite care or day care makes sense – the relief amount is not counted towards these budgets.

Deadlines

€131/month
Relief amount for all care levels (as of 1.1.2025)§ 45b Abs. 1 SGB XI
until 30 June of the following year
Usual deadline for using unused monthly amounts from the previous year§ 45b Abs. 2 SGB XI
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The relief amount is generally paid out on the cost reimbursement principle: you must first pay yourself and then submit the invoice to the care insurance fund, unless the care insurance fund has agreed direct billing with the provider.
  • Only services from providers of everyday support recognised under state law are reimbursable – informal help from neighbours or non-recognised service providers generally is not.
  • The amount of €131 has applied since 1 January 2025 and, according to the available sources, was also unchanged in 2026; check the current amount with the care insurance fund.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Entitlement and amount (§ 45b SGB XI)

People in need of care with a recognised care level – including care level 1 – are entitled to an earmarked relief amount of up to €131 per month (as of 1.1.2025, also valid in 2026). The amount must be used exclusively for services supporting everyday life that are recognised under state law.

Purpose of use

Recognised services include, depending on the federal state, care groups for people with dementia, individual care by the hour, everyday companionship and household support services. According to the legislative explanatory memorandum, the purpose expressly also includes relieving family carers.

Saving up and carry-over

Amounts not used in a calendar month can be saved up and used for corresponding services until 30 June of the following year. For care level 1, the relief amount can also be used proportionately for reimbursement of the costs of benefits in kind.

Relationship to other benefits

The relief amount is not counted towards the joint annual amount for respite care/short-term care (§§ 39, 42 SGB XI) and is available in addition to care allowance or benefits in kind.

Who is responsible
  • Care insurance fund
  • Providers of everyday support recognised under state law
Further reading
Respite care (§ 39 SGB XI)Care allowance, benefits in kind and combined benefitsAdvice and contact points for family carers

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „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.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • €131/month: Relief amount for all care levels (as of 1.1.2025) (§ 45b Abs. 1 SGB XI)
  • until 30 June of the following year: Usual deadline for using unused monthly amounts from the previous year (§ 45b Abs. 2 SGB XI)
What should I do first?
  • Find approved providers: Ask the care insurance fund or the care support centre (Pflegestützpunkt) about providers of everyday support in your region that are recognised under state law.
  • Use the service: Commission the provider; as a rule you submit the invoice to the care insurance fund for reimbursement (cost reimbursement principle).
  • Save up unused amounts: Unused monthly amounts can generally be saved up until 30 June of the following year and used after that.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The relief amount is generally paid out on the cost reimbursement principle: you must first pay yourself and then submit the invoice to the care insurance fund, unless the care insurance fund has agreed direct billing with the provider.
  • Only services from providers of everyday support recognised under state law are reimbursable – informal help from neighbours or non-recognised service providers generally is not.
  • The amount of €131 has applied since 1 January 2025 and, according to the available sources, was also unchanged in 2026; check the current amount with the care insurance fund.
Evidence
  • § 45b SGB XI (gesetze-im-internet.de)
  • Announcement of the benefit amounts of long-term care insurance from 1.1.2025, Federal Ministry of Health
As of

As of September 2026. Amount: as of 1 January 2025, unchanged in 2026 according to the available sources. · Sources and method

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