Care reform: There will soon be no more money for this level of care

Linnemann brings the draft

Care reform: This group no longer receives care allowance

The federal government has passed the first care law in the cabinet. This also provides for a reorganization of the care levels.

The According to Linnemann, the cabinet has approved a stabilization package for care. Next week it should be decided to set up a commission of experts in order to quickly achieve structural changes. The SPD in particular recently complained that it wanted more than just savings in the system. In particular, a commission should find ways to find a balance between private and social care insurance.

The draft introduced by Linnemann is based on a plan drawn up by his predecessor Nina Warken (CDU, now head of the Chancellery). This also included a reorganization of the nursing levels. In the future, stricter conditions will apply in order to be classified in care levels one to three.

When being classified into a nursing level, a certain number of points must be achieved. These points are awarded for different areas of life, called modules. One module covers self-care, another module social contacts and everyday life. Depending on their relevance, the points awarded in the modules are weighted differently. The score calculated at the end decides whether and what level of care a person can receive.

So far, those in need have to achieve 12.5 points in order to be classified in care level one. With the new law, this should only apply from 15 points. There are also tightening measures for care levels two and three. The number of points to be achieved for care levels four and five remains unchanged.

This also has financial consequences, because in the future there will no longer be any money for care level one. So far, those in need of care in care level one receive 131 euros per month as a so-called relief amount. Under the new law, the relief amount will be deleted; instead, there will be a social space budget of 175 euros per month. However, this money is only available from care level two. In care level one, in the future there will only be advisory services and care support to be introduced from 2028.

However, there should be more money for families with children in need of care: “For those in need of care up to the age of 25, the social space budget is up to 300 euros per month,” says a statement about the law.

By the end of 2024, 863,000 men and women were in care level one – so the cut has the potential to affect many people. However, the reduction should only apply to new applications; Anyone who is already classified in care level one today can also rely on old law in the future.

The relief amount can be used to finance a variety of relief measures. In addition to help around the house or with shopping, it can also be used to finance accompanying services so that the person in need of care can, for example, be accompanied to the doctor or have company on a walk through the park. It can also be used for day, night and short-term care. However, the amount is not paid out in cash – instead, those in need of care must submit the relevant receipts and the expenses will then be reimbursed to their account.