Guide: relief allowance
Saving up the relief allowance: when do unused amounts expire?
The relief allowance (Entlastungsbetrag) does not expire just because you do not use it in a given month. Any balance from the current year can still be used until 30 June of the following year. We use examples to show which deadlines apply right now and what is planned for 2027.
The relief allowance at a glance
Everyone with a care level (Pflegegrad) from 1 to 5 is entitled to the relief allowance under Section 45b of Book XI of the German Social Code (SGB XI). It amounts to €131 a month. You cannot have it paid out as cash. It is earmarked: your long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) either reimburses invoices from recognised everyday support services (Angebote zur Unterstützung im Alltag) or settles them directly with the provider. With us, you do not need a separate application, as we bill your care insurance fund directly.
Many people do not use the full amount every month. Some do not know for a long time that they are entitled to it. Over time, a remaining balance (Restbetrag) builds up. You can save up the relief allowance, but not indefinitely. Knowing the deadlines makes planning easier.
No care level yet? Under current law, care level 1 is enough for the relief allowance. Our guide on applying for a care level explains how to apply.
When the relief allowance expires: the rule
Unused amounts are carried over into the following half of the calendar year. Anything left at the end of a year can therefore still be used until 30 June of the following year. After that, the remaining balance expires.
What matters is the year an amount comes from. The deadline is always 30 June of the year after:
- Amounts from 2025: usable until 30 June 2026
- Amounts from 2026: usable until 30 June 2027, under current law
Within this period, you can use saved amounts on top of the current monthly amount. This also makes it possible to pay for tasks that do not come up every week.
Examples: what applies in autumn 2026?
Examples make the rule easier to follow. They reflect the situation in October 2026.
Balances from 2025 have expired
Mr B. has care level 1. He did not use the relief allowance at all in 2025. At the end of the year he was therefore entitled to 12 times €131, i.e. €1,572. He could have used this balance until 30 June 2026. Since then, it has expired.
Amounts from 2026 can be used until 30 June 2027
Mrs S. has care level 2 and has not used the relief allowance so far in 2026. From January to October, €1,310 has built up, and by the end of December it will be €1,572. Under current law, she can use this amount until 30 June 2027. If she starts regular help at home now, she can use up the balance bit by bit.
Part used, part left over
Mrs T. has care level 3 and uses half of the amount each month. That leaves €65.50 a month, or €786 in total at the end of 2026. She can use this balance in addition until 30 June 2027, for example for window cleaning in spring or a few extra hours of companionship.
Important for all three examples: a reform is planned for 2027. What it means for saved amounts has not yet been decided. More on this in the last section.
How to check your balance with your care fund
Your care insurance fund knows how much you have left. You can usually reach it through your health insurance fund (Krankenkasse). It is worth asking in spring, well before the 30 June deadline. If you have private insurance, contact your private long-term care insurer. We can look at what applies in your case.
Have your documents ready
Have your insurance number and the notice confirming your care level to hand.
Ask
Call or write to your care insurance fund. Ask how much of your relief allowance is still unused.
Ask for a split by year
Ask how much comes from the previous year and how much from the current year. For the previous year's amount, 30 June is the deadline.
Keep a record
Note the date, amount and deadline. If you would like it in writing, ask for a short confirmation.
Plan how to use it
Talk to us. In a free initial call, we work out together how you can use the amount for help at home or companionship.
What you can use the relief allowance for
The relief allowance is earmarked for a specific purpose. You can use it for everyday support services recognised under state law. Alltagsdienst Sperling is one such service, recognised in Reutlingen, Tübingen, Stuttgart and the Lake Constance district (Bodenseekreis). We are not a care service (Pflegedienst). We take on household tasks and support people in everyday life:
- Cleaning the home, window cleaning and laundry
- Shopping, errands and the weekly stairwell cleaning (kleine Kehrwoche)
- Preparing meals
- Walks, conversation, reading aloud and board games
- Accompanying you to appointments
Cash payments are not possible. As a rule, you also cannot use it to pay a private cleaner who is not recognised. Our page on home help for older people with a care level explains what we do in detail.
From care level 2 there is another option: with the conversion entitlement (Umwandlungsanspruch), up to 40 percent of the in-kind care benefit (Pflegesachleistung) can be used for recognised services. Our guide to free home help gives an overview of which fund pays for help at home and when.
Planned reform in 2027: what happens to saved amounts?
A reorganisation of care benefits is planned for 2027, and it affects the relief allowance. We summarise what the draft says in plain terms. For you, the key point is this: the rules are not final yet, but it is worth knowing your own balance.
Our advice: do not leave existing amounts unused without good reason. If you need help at home or in everyday life, you can already use your balance for it now. And get advice before you save up any further. You can reach our advice line on 07121 159 10 58, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 2 pm. To get in touch in writing, use our contact form.
Frequently asked questions
Does the relief allowance expire at the end of each month?
No. Unused amounts are carried over into the following half of the calendar year. Anything left over from a year can be used until 30 June of the following year. Only then does the remaining balance expire.
Can I still use balances from 2025?
No. Balances from 2025 could be used until 30 June 2026 and have expired since then. Amounts from 2026, on the other hand, can be used until 30 June 2027 under current law.
How do I find out how much I have saved up?
Ask your care insurance fund, by phone or in writing. Have your insurance number ready and ask for the balance from the previous year and the current year separately. We are also happy to go through this with you in a free initial call.
Do I need to apply for the relief allowance?
Not with us. We bill your care insurance fund directly, so you do not need a separate application. The requirement is a care level between 1 and 5.
What happens to my saved money if the reform goes ahead?
That has not yet been decided. According to the draft Care Reorganisation Act, the relief allowance for care level 1 is to be abolished from 2027 and, in care levels 2 to 5, merged into a community budget. The law has not yet been passed. So do not leave existing amounts unused without good reason, and get advice.
Sources
This article reflects the legal situation on the date given and is not legal advice. We review the amounts every year at the turn of the year.
