What is it?
Pflegegeld is a monthly cash benefit paid by the long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse). It is received by people who care for a relative or close person in need of care in a home setting.
It is important to understand that this is not a salary. It is compensation for your time and effort. It is paid directly to you, the caregiver (Pflegeperson), and not to the person you are caring for.
The legal basis for this benefit is Section 37 of the Social Security Code XI (SGB XI).

Who is eligible?
The right to receive Pflegegeld exists for a person who meets all of the following criteria:

• You regularly and substantially care for a person with an officially recognized care level (Pflegegrad) of 2 to 5 
• You provide care for at least 10 hours per week on average, of which at least 2 hours per day are spent on basic care activities 
• You are not a professional caregiver (Pflegekraft). The care must be non-commercial, provided out of personal commitment rather than as paid employment 
• You either live together with the person in need of care or live nearby and provide assistance in person 

Important additional conditions:

• The person in need of care must have been assessed by the Medical Service (Medizinischer Dienst – MD) and assigned a care level of 2 to 5 
• You may work, but not more than 30 hours per week. If you work more, the Pflegegeld may be reduced or canceled entirely 
• One caregiver can receive Pflegegeld for a maximum of one person at a time 

Who is the recipient? Legally, the entitlement belongs to the person in need of care, who then passes the money on to the caregiver. In practice, it serves as a form of recognition for the caregiver's efforts.
Exclusion: People with Pflegegrad 1 are not entitled to Pflegegeld but may be eligible for other benefits, such as advisory services or material assistance.

How much do you receive?
Important: The amounts were increased by 4.5% on January 1, 2025. There have been no further increases in 2026.
The benefit amount depends on the Pflegegrad of the person you are caring for. You receive the following monthly amounts:


Important: The money is transferred monthly to your bank account. The benefit is tax-free for the recipient. If the caregiver does not receive payment for the care, they may also claim a care allowance (Pflege-Pauschbetrag) in their tax return: €600 for Pflegegrad 2, €1,100 for Pflegegrad 3, and €1,800 for Pflegegrade 4 or 5.

Deadlines

• When entitlement begins: From the month in which the application for the care level (Pflegegrad) was submitted and officially recognized 
• When to apply for Pflegegeld: You can apply simultaneously with the application for the care level. There is no need to wait
• From when it is paid: Starting from the month in which the care level was officially recognized 
• If you disagree with the decision: You have 1 month to file an objection (Widerspruch) from the date of receiving the decision from the Pflegekasse 

Note on the application: The application is submitted informally, e.g., by phone, but is usually made using a form provided by the care fund. A care assessment by the MD is required to establish the care level.

Typical mistakes

1. Applying for Pflegegeld without first establishing a Pflegegrad: This is the most common mistake. You must first obtain the official care level before you can claim the benefit 
2. Providing less than 10 hours of care per week: If you do not meet the minimum hours, you will not receive the benefit 
3. Working more than 30 hours per week: Even if you are providing care, if your main job takes up too much time, the Pflegegeld may be reduced or canceled 
4. Not notifying the Pflegekasse of changes: The health status of the person in need of care has deteriorated? They have been hospitalized? You have moved? All of this must be reported. Otherwise, they may demand the money back later 
5. Caring for multiple people simultaneously without proper documentation: If you are helping two relatives, this can be arranged, but the paperwork must be filled out correctly. You cannot simply receive double Pflegegeld 
6. Missing the deadline for filing a Widerspruch (objection): If you miss the 1-month deadline, the decision becomes final and binding 
7. Missing the mandatory consultation visit: If you only receive Pflegegeld, you must attend a consultation visit regularly. Otherwise, the benefit may be reduced or even withdrawn in the case of repeated violations 

Step-by-Step Guide to Pflegegeld

Step 1. Check the preliminary insurance requirement (Vorversicherungszeit).
To submit an application, you must have been insured under the statutory or private long-term care insurance system for at least 2 years within the last 10 years immediately preceding your application.

Step 2. Submit the initial application (Antrag auf Pflegeleistungen).
You must contact your health insurance fund (e.g., Techniker, AOK, Barmer, etc.), which will automatically forward your request to its affiliated long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse). You can submit the application:

• In writing (the form is usually downloaded from your fund's website or requested by phone).
• By phone (calling the fund and asking for the forms to be sent to you already counts as the date of application).
• Online via your fund's portal.

Critical point: The date of application is the day your request is received by the fund. As with social welfare benefits, retroactive payments are not made. Do not delay sending it in.

Step 3. Await the appointment of an expert assessment (Begutachtung).
After receiving your application, the Pflegekasse contracts the Medical Service of the Health Insurance Funds (MD) or, for private patients, the Medicproof service. You do not need to find an assessor yourself. The MD expert will contact you by letter or phone to arrange a home visit (or a visit to the facility where you reside).

Step 4. Prepare for the assessor's home visit.
This is the key stage. The assessment is based on the new definition of care needs (Pflegebedürftigkeitsbegriff). It evaluates not only physical limitations but also cognitive and mental impairments (e.g., in cases of dementia).
Prepare the following for the expert's arrival:

• A care log (Pflegetagebuch) – highly recommended. For 1–2 weeks before the visit, record in a table: who provided what type of help, when, and for how many minutes (e.g., getting up, washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, going for walks, supervising medication intake).
• A list of diagnoses and medications (Medikamentenplan).
• Discharge summaries from hospitals and reports from specialists (neurologist, orthopedist, psychiatrist).

The primary caregiver (spouse, child, or professional carer) must be present during the visit. The expert will ask questions about your daily routine.
The expert evaluates independence across 6 modules (mobility, cognitive abilities, behavior, self-care, everyday social contacts, and organizing daily routines). Your task is to describe the situation honestly but based on the worst-case scenario (a bad day), without downplaying difficulties.

Step 5. Receive the decision (Bescheid) and determine your care grade (Pflegegrad).
The decision arrives by post. Care grades range from 1 to 5:

• Pflegegrad 1 (minor impairments): 12.5 – 27 points → only the €125 relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag) for support services (cleaning, accompaniment). No cash or in-kind care benefits.
• Pflegegrad 2 (moderate care needs): 27 – 47.5 points
• Pflegegrad 3 (severe care needs): 47.5 – 70 points
• Pflegegrad 4 (very severe): 70 – 90 points
• Pflegegrad 5 (most severe with special requirements): 90 – 100 points

Actual cash benefits (Pflegegeld) or in-kind care services (Pflegesachleistung) start from Grade 2 onward.

Step 6. Choose your form of benefit (after receiving the Bescheid).
The decision will state your grade. You must now declare how you wish to receive assistance:

• Cash benefit (Pflegegeld): For care provided by relatives. The amount depends on the grade (as of 01.01.2024: Grade 2 – €332, Grade 3 – €573, Grade 4 – €765, Grade 5 – €947 per month). In return, you are obliged to receive a consultation visit (Beratungseinsatz) from a certified care service once every six months. Missing this visit will result in a freeze on payments.
• In-kind care services (Pflegesachleistung): A professional home care service (Pflegedienst) comes to your home. The fund pays the service provider directly up to a fixed limit (Grade 2 – up to €761/month, Grade 3 – up to €1,432/month, etc.).
• Combination: Partly cash, partly in-kind services.

If you believe your assessment was too low:
You have 1 month to file a written objection (Widerspruch) with the Pflegekasse. Your objection must be supported by strong arguments – such as reports from your treating physicians stating that your condition is more severe than the MD assessed. If the objection is rejected again, the next step is the Social Court (Sozialgericht). Note that the court does not appreciate unsubstantiated accusations against experts – only objective medical documents will carry weight.
That is the procedure. If any misunderstandings arise during the process, contact the Pflegestützpunkt (care support center) in your city – they offer free counseling on filling out paperwork.