Germany nursing home residents warned of unlawful cash management fees

In Germany, consumer advocates are warning nursing home residents and their families about potentially unlawful charges on monthly invoices. According to the Verbraucherzentrale Sachsen-Anhalt, managing a resident's cash or pocket money is considered a standard part of social care in stationary facilities. Consequently, nursing homes are generally prohibited from charging separate fees for this service, such as 'custody fees' (Verwahrentgelt) or 'account management fees' (Kontoführungsgebühr).

Experts advise residents to scrutinize their statements for any additional charges that have not been explicitly agreed upon through individual contracts. If such fees are found to be incorrectly applied, they must be refunded. Affected individuals are encouraged to formally object to the invoice in writing to demand reimbursement.

Separately, regarding statutory long-term care insurance, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) notes that care allowance (Pflegegeld) is typically paid out on the first working day of the month. For September 2026, payments for those with statutory insurance are expected by Tuesday, September 1, 2026, though some providers like AOK may pay as early as the last working day of the preceding month.