Apply for care help

You can use this application to request care assistance.

If you are dependent on the help of others due to health impairments, under certain circumstances you are entitled to care assistance under the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) in addition to the claims from long-term care insurance.

The reason for the need can be physical, cognitive or psychological impairments or health-related burdens or demands that cannot be compensated and mastered independently.

The determination of whether and to what extent there is a need for long-term care is carried out by the Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK), which is commissioned by your long-term care insurance. Further information on the assessment procedure can be obtained from your long-term care insurance.

The Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) determines your need for care. It assesses how independently you can still cope with your everyday life. The degree of care is determined with a point system. Your responsible care fund is then responsible for covering the care costs. However, depending on the type of benefit, the costs are only covered by long-term care insurance up to certain maximum limits. If it is not possible for you to assume the uncovered remaining costs, social assistance benefits (SGB XII) – such as care assistance – are eligible, taking into account the findings of the MDK.

If you do not have long-term care insurance and therefore do not receive an expert opinion from the MDK and no classification in a nursing degree by the nursing care fund, the social welfare institution can commission the responsible health authority (so-called public health officer) with an assessment.

You will only receive care assistance if your income and assets (or those of your spouse or partner) are insufficient. Dependents are called upon if their annual gross income is more than EUR 100,000.00, see also Act on the Relief of Dependent Relatives in Social Assistance and Integration Assistance (so-called Relatives Relief Act).

You are entitled to the following benefits:

From care level 1:

• Care aids
• measures to improve the living environment;
• Digital care applications
• Additional support for the use of digital care applications
• a discharge amount.

From care level 2 - 5:

• Home care (in the form of care allowance, home care assistance, preventive care, care aids, measures to improve the living environment, other services, digital care applications, supplementary support when using digital care applications)
• Semi-inpatient care
• Short-term care
• a relief amount
• Inpatient care

Care assistance will be provided by the competent authority after examination of your documents, provided that the necessary conditions are met.