Germany's Care Insurance Sets €3,539 Annual Budget for Preventive and Short‑Term Care

Germany’s long‑term care insurance has introduced a joint "Entlastungsbudget" of €3,539 per year, effective 1 July 2025, to fund both Verhinderungspflege (preventive care) and Kurzzeitpflege (short‑term care). The budget is available to people with care grades 2 to 5 who are normally cared for at home by relatives or informal caregivers and can be used for up to eight weeks per year, either continuously or in separate periods.

For Pflegegrad 2, the monthly care allowance is €347. During Verhinderungspflege the allowance is paid at half rate, resulting in €173.50 per month, €43.38 per week, and a total of €347 for eight weeks. If a close relative provides the substitute care, the maximum reimbursement is €694 for the eight‑week period (€86.75 per week).

For Pflegegrad 5, the monthly care allowance is €990. During Kurzzeitpflege the allowance is also halved, giving €495 per month, about €124 per week, and €990 for the full eight‑week period. The same €3,539 pool can cover either or both types of care, and the amount does not vary with the care grade.