How much does the Pflegekasse pay in a care home?
A fixed monthly amount under § 43 SGB XI: €805 for Pflegegrad 2, €1,319 for grade 3, €1,855 for grade 4 and €2,096 for grade 5. In the law, these amounts carry the note “as of 1 January 2025” and remain unchanged in 2026. There is also something for Pflegegrad 1 that is almost never mentioned: a “grant of €131 a month”. The grant is independent of income and is paid directly to the facility. Figures of €770, €1,262, €1,775 and €2,005 date from before 2025.
What does a care home place cost altogether?
We cannot tell you, and no one can do so reliably – which is why there is deliberately no average figure here. The personal contribution is made up of the facility-wide uniform care portion, of accommodation and meals, of investment costs and often a training levy. These items differ considerably between facilities in the same city, and even more between federal states; a mean value from a past year tells you nothing about the home you are looking at and quickly becomes out of date. Ask for the cost estimate with separately shown items and compare two to three homes item by item – that is the only calculation that is right for you.
Is it true that the personal contribution falls over time?
Yes, and considerably so. § 43c SGB XI grants people in need of long-term care with Pflegegrad 2 to 5 a Leistungszuschlag on the payable care-related personal contribution: 15% for up to twelve months, 30% for more than twelve months, 50% for more than 24 and 75% for more than 36 months. What matters is the reference value: only the care portion is reduced, not accommodation, meals and investment costs. Partial periods and time at other facilities also count towards the qualifying months. As of 1 July 2026, the Pflegekasse calculates the Leistungszuschlag based on information from the facility – if it is missing from your bill or appears incorrect, the Pflegekasse is your point of contact.
What if we cannot pay the personal contribution?
Then care assistance may be an option – applied for at the Sozialamt, not at the Pflegekasse. It is a social assistance benefit that takes income and assets into account; maintenance claims against children can also play a role, though only above a substantial income limit, so most children are not required to pay. Apply early: retroactive benefits are only possible to a limited extent, while the home's bill keeps running. Get advice beforehand – care support centres and social associations know the procedures and help with the application free of charge.
Will a care home place be paid for with Pflegegrad 1?
Only to a small extent – but not nothing. § 43 SGB XI provides a “grant of €131 a month” for people in need of long-term care with Pflegegrad 1 in full inpatient care. That is considerably less than from grade 2 onwards, but it is almost always left out of overviews – many assume there is nothing at all in a care home with grade 1. If a care home place is coming up and the condition has worsened, it is also definitely worth submitting an application for a higher care grade: the difference between €131 and €805 a month is considerable, and there is no waiting period.
What must I watch out for in the home contract?
Four points deserve particular attention. First, the absence rules: what applies during a hospital stay, how long is the place kept open, and what is charged during this time? Second, the notice periods – for both sides. Third, the additional services: what is included in the price and what is charged separately, such as a hairdresser, chiropody or special room fittings? And fourth, the price adjustment: under what conditions may the facility raise prices, and with what notice period? Consumer associations check home contracts; given the amounts involved, this cost is money well spent.
Do periods at another home count too?
Yes. For the Leistungszuschlag under § 43c SGB XI, what matters is the number of qualifying months of full inpatient care, and partial periods are taken into account too. If you move – for example to a home closer to relatives – or if there was already a period of full inpatient care before, these periods should feed into the scale and the scale should not start again from zero. Point this out explicitly when you change homes and submit proof of the earlier periods. As of 1 July 2026, the Pflegekasse calculates the Leistungszuschlag based on the facility's information; otherwise a transmission error at the time of the move goes unnoticed by everyone except you.
Can I use Pflegegeld (long-term care allowance) or the additional relief allowance (Entlastungsbetrag) to pay towards it?
No, neither is available in full inpatient care. The Pflegegeld under § 37 SGB XI presupposes home care and is not paid during a permanent stay in a home; likewise, the Entlastungsbetrag under § 45b SGB XI is reserved for people in need of long-term care “receiving home care”. In full inpatient care, their place is taken by the grant under § 43 SGB XI plus the Leistungszuschlag under § 43c. The position is different for a temporary stay: during short-term care, half of the Pflegegeld continues to be paid, and the Entlastungsbetrag may be used for it.
