If you need care, you decide for yourself who will care for you and where. If you are cared for at home by family members, friends or other volunteers, you will receive care allowance from the care insurance fund. You can apply for this from your care insurance fund. The long-term care insurance fund is affiliated to your statutory health insurance fund, so you can use the same contact details.

You are entitled to care allowance if

• you are classified in care degree 2, 3, 4 or 5 and
• the person you choose provides all the care you need at home. This may include, for example, personal hygiene, laundry and cooking.

The care allowance is paid to you monthly by your care insurance fund. You can pass it on to the person caring for you yourself as recognition and compensation for expenses. The amount of the monthly care allowance depends on your care needs:

• 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, you will continue to receive 50 percent of the care allowance.

If you receive care allowance, you will receive a counseling visit at home every six months - for care level 2 or 3 - or every quarter - for care level 4 or 5. You decide who carries this out: You choose a care service or a recognized advice centre and make an appointment. The law prescribes the consultation visits. These are intended to ensure that you receive good care at home. You and your caregiver will receive care tips and support at these appointments. Under long-term care insurance, the long-term care insurance fund pays the costs of the advice visits and settles the bill directly with the service provider.