How am I protected when I care for my parents in Germany?
In short
When you care for your parents in Germany at care level 2 or higher (Pflegegrad), for at least ten hours a week on two days, their care insurance pays pension contributions for you if you work no more than 30 hours. You are also protected by statutory accident insurance and often by unemployment insurance. One year of care at level 2 adds about EUR 10 to your monthly pension.
Statutory amounts and example premiums around caring for your parents in Germany.
Example
Typical range
Care allowance at care level 2 to 5
EUR 347 to 990 a month
Extra monthly pension per year of care, level 2 to 5, with care allowance
about EUR 9.93 to 36.77
Own care daily allowance, taken out at 40
about EUR 32 to 64 a month
Own care daily allowance, taken out at 50
about EUR 52 to 99 a month
Own share in a care home, first year, national average
EUR 3,364 a month
Pension values from the German pension insurance for a year of care in 2024, West Germany,
rounded estimates.
Premiums for the care daily allowance as of September 2026; your premium depends on age,
health and benefit, we obtain the exact quote.
Worked example
Daughter, 45, part time 25 hours, mother at care level 3
The daughter cares for her mother on three days a week for twelve hours in total; the mother receives care allowance.
Care allowance paid to the mother
EUR 599 a month
Pension contributions from the care fund
yes, as 12 hours of care and only 25 hours of work
Extra monthly pension after five years of care (5 × EUR 15.81)
about EUR 79
Accident insurance during care
yes, as care level 3
After five years about EUR 79 more monthly pension, if care level and hours stay the same. The daughter's own care gap remains open.
Pension: what the care fund pays in for you
If you care for your parents at home without being paid as a professional, you count as a caregiver (Pflegeperson). From care level 2 and at least ten hours a week, spread over at least two days, your parents' care insurance pays contributions into your pension. The condition is that you regularly work no more than 30 hours a week alongside.
The amount depends on the care level and on whether your parents receive care allowance (Pflegegeld), professional care services or both. For one year of care in 2024 with care allowance, the German pension insurance states roughly EUR 9.93 more monthly pension at care level 2, EUR 15.81 at level 3 and EUR 36.77 at level 5. If siblings share the care, the effort is split.
Accidents and unemployment while caring for your parents
Caregivers of a person with care level 2 or higher are covered by statutory accident insurance, both during the care itself and during help in the household. If you fall while helping your father out of bed, that is a case for the public accident insurer.
You stay in unemployment insurance if you were compulsorily insured or received unemployment benefit immediately before the care began. The years of care then count towards a later claim to unemployment benefit.
Time off work
In an acute situation you may stay away from work for up to ten working days to organise care. For these days the care fund pays a care support allowance (Pflegeunterstützungsgeld) on application, for up to ten working days per calendar year.
For longer care of your parents there is care leave of up to six months, full or partial, with employers of more than 15 staff, announced at least ten working days in advance. Together with family care leave (Familienpflegezeit), at most 24 months per relative are possible. During full leave, the care fund pays subsidies towards health and long-term care insurance on application.
Rule
Length
Money
Short-term absence
up to 10 working days
care support allowance on application
Care leave (Pflegezeit)
up to 6 months
no wage, subsidies towards health and care insurance on application
Care leave and family care leave together
at most 24 months
depends on the agreement
Liability: damage in your parents' home
If something breaks while you are caring in your parents' home, your personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) is what matters. If your parents live in their own household, they are third parties under your policy and the damage is generally covered.
If your parents move in with you, many family policies include them as co-insured. Then the liability policy no longer pays for damage between you; that is a matter for the contents insurance.
The gap that remains: your own care
Caring for your parents shows what a care case costs. Under section 37 SGB XI the care allowance is EUR 347 a month at care level 2 and EUR 990 at level 5; in a care home the own share in the first year averages EUR 3,364 a month.
For your own future, a long-term care daily allowance policy (Pflegetagegeld) helps. Taken out at 40, it costs about EUR 32 to 64 a month for up to EUR 1,500 at care level 5. If you have enough assets to pay several years of care home costs yourself, you can do without it.
Step by step
Apply for a care level for your parents with their care fund; without care level 2 there are no pension contributions.
State your care hours and care days in the application or questionnaire.
Check your weekly working hours: above 30 hours the pension contributions stop.
Announce short-term absence or care leave to your employer in writing.
Check your own liability insurance and your own care provision.
Checklist
Care level 2 or higher confirmed
At least 10 hours of care on at least 2 days a week
Work of no more than 30 hours a week
Care leave announced at least ten working days ahead
Your own liability policy covers damage in your parents' home
Common mistakes
Not stating your care hours in the questionnaire and losing the pension contributions
Raising your working hours above 30 without knowing the contributions then stop
Postponing your own care provision until health questions make it difficult
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
How am I protected when I care for my parents and work full time?
With more than 30 hours of work, the care fund pays no pension contributions.
Statutory accident insurance during care still applies from care level 2.
Does this also apply at care level 1?
No.
Pension contributions, accident cover and unemployment insurance for caregivers require care level
2.
Can two siblings both receive pension contributions?
Yes, if each reaches ten hours on two days.
The care effort is then split, and so are the contributions.
Do I have to pay for my parents' care myself?
For a care home, children only contribute with an annual income above EUR 100,000.
For care at home, the parents receive care allowance or care services.
Do I get paid during care leave?
No.
During care leave your wage stops fully or partly.
On application, the care fund pays subsidies towards health and long-term care insurance.
Do I need private accident insurance for the caring?
Not necessarily for accidents during the care itself, as statutory accident insurance applies.
