Care allowance will be increased in 2025 – all care levels in one table

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The care allowance will increase from 2025. In the table below you can see how much the care allowance will be next year depending on the level.

Care allowance increase for 2025 at a glance

Level of care	Care allowance 2024	Care allowance 2025
Care level 1	no claim	no claim
Care level 2	332 euros	347 euros
Care level 3	573 euros	599 euros
Care level 4	765 euros	800 euros
Care level 5	947 euros	990 euros

Who gets care allowance?

Care allowance is granted from care level 2. The amount depends on the level of care determined by the person in need of care. Carers with care level 1 are not entitled to care allowance, but can benefit from other support measures in order to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

How much is the care allowance in 2024 and 2025?

The amount of the care allowance varies depending on the level of care. In 2024, monthly payments will be:

• Care level 2: 332 euros
• Care level 3: 573 euros
• Care level 4: 765 euros
• Care level 5: 947 euros

As of January 1, 2025, the amounts will increase by 4.5 percent. This increase was regulated in the Care Support and Relief Act. Those in need of care will receive monthly:

• Care level 2: 347 euros
• Care level 3: 599 euros
• Care level 4: 800 euros
• Care level 5: 990 euros

What can care allowance be used for?

The nursing care allowance is paid out directly to the person in need of care by the nursing insurance company. They are free to decide how they use the money. The funds can be used, for example, to recognize caring relatives or volunteers. However, it is important that home care is actually guaranteed. This is checked through regular consultation visits.

Care allowance and care benefits in kind: How does the combination work?

In addition to the care allowance, there is the option of taking advantage of so-called care benefits in kind. These are services that an outpatient care service bills directly to the care insurance company.

The amount of care benefits in kind also depends on the level of care. In 2024, the maximum support will be between 761 euros (care level 2) and 2,200 euros (care level 5). These contributions will also increase by 4.5 percent in 2025.

Care allowance and care benefits in kind can be combined. This means that those in need of care, for example, have part of the care covered by a service provider and use the rest of the care allowance to pay private supporters.

How is the level of care determined?

The classification into a level of care is carried out by experts from the medical service or other commissioned institutions. This justifies how independently the person can cope with their everyday life. Not only physical condition is taken into account, but also cognitive and psychological limitations. Care level 1 applies to minor impairments, while care level 5 stands for the most severe impairments.

Which requirements must be met?

In order to receive care allowance, an application must be submitted to the care insurance fund. The following also applies: In the last ten years before submitting the application, the person in need of care must have paid into the nursing care fund for at least two years. Alternatively, coverage through family insurance is sufficient. Civil servants, soldiers and other groups of people can receive benefits from private compulsory long-term care insurance.