Nobody goes without care for lack of money
Many families share a big worry: what happens when the pension is not enough and the savings are used up? The most important answer first: nobody loses their place in a home because of this. If income and assets are not sufficient, the social welfare office covers the uncovered costs as Hilfe zur Pflege (care assistance) under §§ 61 ff. SGB XII.
Who is entitled
Care assistance is available to people in need of care who cannot bear the necessary care costs, or cannot bear them in full, from their own resources. The benefit is subsidiary: first the care fund's benefits, your own income and your usable assets are used. Only the remaining gap is borne by the social welfare office.
What is taken into account
Income mainly includes pensions, civil service pensions, company pensions, rental income and interest. For assets, savings, securities, life insurance and, in principle, real estate are taken into account. However, a small amount of assets remains protected, the so-called Schonvermögen. The exact amount and which other assets are protected — such as reasonable funeral provision — are best clarified directly with the social welfare office.
For married people, the income and assets of the spouse or registered partner are also taken into account. However, the partner who continues to live at home must be left with enough for their own living costs and home.
What you keep: the personal allowance
Even people receiving care assistance keep money for personal expenses — for the hairdresser, magazines, small gifts or trips. Under § 27b (3) SGB XII, this personal allowance for adults is at least 27% of standard need level 1. As this is €563 in 2026, that means at least €152.01 per month. As a rule, there is also a flat-rate amount for clothing.
Apply in good time
Social assistance starts as soon as the social welfare office becomes aware that the conditions are met. There is usually nothing for periods before that. So do not wait until the account is empty. As soon as it is foreseeable that funds will be used up in the coming months, you should get in touch. An informal letter is enough at first; documents can be submitted later.
Typically, the social welfare office needs:
1. the care level assessment notice,
2. the residential contract and the current cost statement,
3. proof of pension and other income,
4. bank statements and proof of assets,
5. information about spouse and children.
Planning with the calculator
The nursing home cost calculator shows how large the monthly gap between income and home costs is and how long existing savings are likely to last. It takes into account that the gap becomes smaller over time thanks to the rising supplement. This lets you see early on when an application might make sense. The net pension calculator calculates how high the pension actually is after deductions.
And what about the children?
Many parents shy away from applying because they fear that the social welfare office will recover the money from their children. Today this is very rarely the case: children are only called upon if their total annual income exceeds €100,000. Read more in the article on parental maintenance.
Help with the application
You do not have to go it alone. Care support centres, the homes' social services, social associations and the care fund's care counselling offer free help with the application. Care assistance is not charity but a legal entitlement — make use of it when you need it.