💶 Care allowance, benefits in kind and combined benefits
In brief
For home care, the person in need of care has three basic forms of benefit available from care level 2: care allowance (§ 37 SGB XI, a cash benefit when care is provided by relatives or other private individuals), benefits in kind (§ 36 SGB XI, payment of the costs of an outpatient care service) and combined benefits (§ 38 SGB XI, a mixture of both). As a family carer this affects you directly, because the choice of benefit type helps determine how much care you provide yourself and how much a care service provides.
Step by step
- Choose the type of benefitDiscuss with your relative whether care should be provided mainly by you or other private individuals (care allowance) or by a care service (benefits in kind) – or a mixture (combined benefits).
- For combined benefits, set the ratioWith combined benefits, the share of benefits in kind used is set first; the proportionate care allowance then results automatically from the unused share of benefits in kind.
- Note the binding periodThe chosen ratio between benefits in kind and care allowance generally applies for 6 months before it can be set anew.
- Report changesIf the actual care situation changes significantly (e.g. a hospital stay, a change of care service), report this to the care insurance fund.
Deadlines
- Care allowance and benefits in kind belong to the person in need of care; how the care allowance is used or passed on within the family is not regulated by law but is a private agreement.
- The euro amounts given have applied since 1 January 2025 (an increase of 4.5 %) and, according to the available sources, were also unchanged in 2026; the next regular adjustment is planned for 1 January 2028 at the earliest – check the current amount with the care insurance fund.
- If actual care is not ensured when care allowance is paid, the care insurance fund can require a counselling visit under § 37 Abs. 3 SGB XI; if this is not taken up, the care allowance can be reduced or stopped.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Care allowance (§ 37 SGB XI)
People in need of care who ensure their own home care (for example through relatives) receive monthly care allowance. According to the announcement of benefit amounts as of 1 January 2025 (BMG, also valid in 2026) it is: care level 2: €347, care level 3: €599, care level 4: €800, care level 5: €990 per month.
Benefits in kind (§ 36 SGB XI)
If care is provided by an approved outpatient care service, the care insurance fund covers the costs up to a monthly maximum: care level 2: €796, care level 3: €1,497, care level 4: €1,859, care level 5: €2,299 (as of 1.1.2025, unchanged in 2026).
Combined benefits (§ 38 SGB XI)
If benefits in kind are only partly used, the unused share is paid out as proportionate care allowance. Example: anyone who has 40 % of the benefits in kind they are entitled to covered by a service receives proportionate care allowance for the remaining 60 %. The person in need of care is bound to the chosen split for 6 months.
Why this matters to you as a carer
The choice between care allowance, benefits in kind and combined benefits largely determines how much practical care work falls to you as a relative – and thus also the extent to which you are yourself a "carer" (Pflegeperson) within the meaning of § 19 SGB XI, which in turn is a requirement for your own cover in the pension and accident insurance (see the corresponding topic pages).
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