Care can suddenly become an issue - or change gradually. Good to know: In Germany, people in need of care and their relatives have a clear legal entitlement to care advice. At the same time, there have recently been important reforms (PUEG, „Common Annual Amount“ and, since 01.01.2026, the BEEP) that simplify processes and place a greater focus on advice.
1) What is care advice - and when is it worthwhile?
Care advice helps you to choose from a wide range of options. concrete plan to make: Apply for benefits, organize suitable support (outpatient, part-time inpatient, short-term care), ensure relief for relatives and avoid typical mistakes.
Typical occasions:
- Degree of care has been applied for or approved
- Overload/relief in home care
- Conversion from care allowance ↔ care benefit in kind ↔ combination benefit
- Acute time-out necessary (vacation/illness of caregiver)
- Adaptation of living space, aids, organization in everyday life
2) The legal situation: Two „types“ of care advice that are often confused
A) Care advice in accordance with § 7a SGB XI (entitlement - voluntary)
If you apply for long-term care insurance benefits, should the long-term care insurance fund gives you within two weeks make a counseling appointment possible or suggest a suitable counseling center. This counseling is free of charge (billed via the care insurance fund).
B) Counseling according to § 37 para. 3 SGB XI (mandatory - for care allowance)
Who (predominantly) care allowance and is cared for at home, must be examined at certain intervals. Consulting assignment call up. This is not a „control“, but is intended to stabilize home care and provide practical help.
Important (new 2026): The BEEP has standardized/simplified the mandatory dates for the advisory assignment in accordance with Section 37 (3) (for details see section „What's new in 2026?“).
3) What is „current“: an overview of the most important changes 2024-2026
01.01.2024 & 01.01.2025: Performance adjustments due to the PUEG
- 01.01.2024: Care allowance and outpatient benefits in kind +5 %
- 01.01.2025: all Long-term care insurance benefits +4.5 %
- The next „scheduled“ dynamization (according to the PUEG system) is only planned for 01.01.2028 intended.
Practical values (since 01.01.2025, status 2026):
- Care allowance: PG 2 347 €, PG 3 599 €, PG 4 800 €, PG 5 990 €/month
- relief amount: 131 €/month (PG 1-5, home care)
01.07.2025: „Joint annual amount“ - more flexibility when taking time out
Short-term care and respite care were combined into one Joint annual amount brought together:
- Budget: up to 3,539 € per calendar year (PG 2-5), flexible use
- Transfer „calculation rules“ no longer apply - less bureaucracy
- Pre-care period not applicable (Preventive care can be used immediately from PG 2)
- Preventive care until 8 weeks/year, and continued payment of care allowance (half) until 8 weeks/year for respite care and short-term care
Since 01.01.2026: BEEP (extension of powers & reduction of bureaucracy)
At the turn of the year, the BEEP entered into force. Key issues:
- More powers for nursing staff (certain tasks independently within the framework of contracts)
- Reducing bureaucracy, including the scope of testing and documentation
- Prevention advice is strengthened (targeted access, recommendation of concrete measures)
- Applications/Forms are to be simplified (cooperation committee at the GKV-Spitzenverband)
- Mandatory advisory assignments (Section 37 (3)) have been standardized/simplified - for many this means: fewer mandatory appointments, but still the chance of additional advice if needed.
4) Use care advice correctly: Mini checklist
This preparation helps to ensure that the consultation really „works“:
- Provide care degree certificate / MD documents
- Who provides care? (Relatives, nursing service, neighborhood help)
- What works well - where is there strain? (personal hygiene, mobility, night, dementia, household)
- Write down goal: „Relief“, „More help in the household“, „Organize time out“, „Aids“, „Adapt home“
- List of questions (5 minutes is enough!) and request: consultation at home / by phone / by video
5) How KV can support care services (text module/CTA)
Do you want to sort your options quickly and easily - without the frustration of forms?
KV care services supports you in finding the right care advice, preparing documents sensibly and making practical use of respite services.
Tip: The earlier advice is given, the more can often be organized - before overload arises.
