Applying for long-term care allowance in social long-term care insurance
If you are in need of care, you decide for yourself by whom and where you are cared for. If you are cared for at home by family members, acquaintances or other volunteers, you will be paid care allowance in the long-term care insurance. You can apply for this at your nursing care fund. The nursing care insurance is affiliated to your statutory health insurance, so you can use the same contact details.
You are entitled to care allowance if:
- you are classified in care level 2, 3, 4 or 5 and
- the person you choose ensures complete home care. This may include, for example, personal hygiene, washing clothes and cooking.
The care allowance is transferred to you monthly by your nursing care fund. You can pass it on to the person who cares for you independently as recognition and expense allowance. The amount of the monthly care allowance is staggered according to your need for care:
- Care level 2: EUR 316,00
- Care level 3: EUR 545,00
- Care level 4: EUR 728,00
- Care level 5: EUR 901,00
During short-term care or substitute care, 50 percent of the care allowance will continue to be paid to you.
If you receive care allowance, you will receive a consultation visit at home every six months – at care level 2 or 3 – or every quarter – at care level 4 or 5. You decide for yourself who carries this out: You choose a nursing service or a recognised counselling centre and make an appointment. The law prescribes the counselling visits. These are to ensure that you are well cared for at home. You and your caregiver will receive nursing tips and support at these appointments. In long-term care insurance, the nursing care insurance pays the costs of the counselling visits and settles them directly with the service provider.
Process flow
You can, for example, apply for care allowance by post and – with many care insurance funds – hand it in personally at the office or submit it online.
- You submit the application for care allowance to your long-term care fund. If you are unable to do so yourself, you can authorize someone in writing.
- The nursing care fund will examine your application for care allowance and
- transfers your care allowance to you on a monthly basis.
Requirements
- They are classified in care level 2, 3, 4, or 5
- You will be cared for at home by a private, non-professional caregiver who will be able to ensure your home care
Which documents are required?
You do not have to submit any documents to apply for care allowance.
Depending on the individual case, further documents may be required. Please contact your nursing care insurance fund for more information.
What are the fees?
You do not have to pay anything for the application.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Entitlement to care allowance is valid from the date of application, but at the earliest from the date on which the conditions for eligibility are met. If the application is not submitted in the calendar month in which the dependency occurred, but later, the benefits shall be granted from the beginning of the month in which the application was submitted. Therefore, you should submit the application in good time.
Processing duration
Processing usually takes about 2 to 3 business days.
For a quick processing and decision, your nursing care fund must have the necessary information and, if necessary, necessary documents complete and meaningful.
The nursing care fund decides on applications promptly.
Please note that the stated processing time is an average value of all care insurance funds. It may vary in individual cases.
The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and can be extended accordingly. The same applies if documents or documents are sent by post to you or your nursing care fund.
If necessary, the Medical Service must be involved.
Applications / forms
Forms: yes
Online procedure possible: Many care insurance companies offer an online procedure.
Written form required: no
Personal appearance required: no
Application for care allowance via the cash register navigator of the GKV-Spitzenverband
Appeal
- Contradiction
- Action before the Social Court
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Health
Professionally released on
28.10.2021
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
