Household help for seniors with a care level

Who is entitled to household help with a care level?

Everyone with a care level, from care level 1 to care level 5. The legal basis is the relief allowance (Entlastungsbetrag) under § 45b SGB XI. It is earmarked: the long-term care fund only pays it for recognised everyday support services (Angebote zur Unterstützung im Alltag). Alltagsdienst Sperling is such a service, recognised under state law according to § 45a SGB XI and the Baden-Württemberg support services regulation, in Reutlingen, Tübingen, Stuttgart and the Lake Constance district (Bodenseekreis).

From care level 2 there is a second option: the conversion entitlement (Umwandlungsanspruch) under § 45a (4) SGB XI. It lets you use up to 40 percent of your care benefits in kind (Pflegesachleistung) for help at home, as long as that amount is not used up by a nursing service. Our guide to the conversion entitlement explains how it works in detail.

No care level yet?

Then it is worth applying. You can apply informally with your long-term care fund, a phone call is enough. Benefits apply from the month in which you apply. After that, the Medical Service (Medizinischer Dienst) carries out an assessment, usually in your home. Our guide on applying for a care level explains how to prepare.

What does it cost? The relief allowance for household help

In most cases you pay nothing extra: you get your household help through the long-term care fund, and we bill the fund directly.

Relief allowance: 131 euros a month from care level 1

The relief allowance applies to all five care levels. It is not paid out in cash. We bill it directly to the care fund. If you do not use the full amount in a month, the rest is carried over to the following half-year. Anything left over at the end of a year can be used until 30 June of the following year, after that it expires. More on this in our guide to saving up the relief allowance.

The 131 euros are a subsidy, not a limit. You decide how many hours you book with us: combined with other benefits from your insurance and private billing, as many as you like.

Conversion entitlement: up to 40 percent of care benefits in kind from care level 2

In addition to the relief allowance, from care level 2 you can use part of your care benefits in kind for our household help. The monthly maximum is:

• Care level 2: 318.40 euros
• Care level 3: 598.80 euros
• Care level 4: 743.60 euros
• Care level 5: 919.60 euros

If you also receive care allowance (Pflegegeld), it is reduced proportionally. Many care funds want to be informed in advance. In our free consultation we work out with you whether the conversion is worthwhile.

If you need more hours than the fund covers, you can book additional hours privately. If you have private insurance, reimbursement depends on your policy, and we advise you on a case by case basis. Our guide to free household help gives an overview of all the options.

Frequently asked questions