Care Assistance
People who need assistance with daily living due to a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability are eligible to receive care assistance.
Services are available in the home (outpatient care), on an intermediate care basis, and as inpatient care (inpatient nursing care), such as in a nursing home; costs for assistive devices may also be covered.
Entitlements under the long-term care insurance fund must be assessed first.
To determine eligibility, an individual needs assessment or calculation is required. The best way to determine whether you are eligible is through a personal consultation or by submitting a formal application.
Inpatient Care
If the benefits provided by the long-term care insurance fund are insufficient to cover the costs of nursing home care, and if the person in need of care is unable to pay the remaining costs from their own resources, supplemental social assistance benefits may be available. This is based on the provisions of SGB XII (Social Code, Book XII).
When deciding on social assistance, the legal relationships between the person living in the facility and third parties can play a significant role—such as children’s obligation to provide support, rights to housing, and so on.
For this reason, it is advisable to contact the appropriate case worker responsible for long-term care assistance in facilities under SGB XII in advance. There, you can obtain application forms and specific information.
When it comes to social assistance—unlike with long-term care insurance—you must first use your own income and assets to the extent reasonably expected of you. Therefore, the following documents are important for the social assistance eligibility review:
- A fully completed application for long-term care assistance in facilities
- Proof of income (e.g., pension adjustment notices)
- Proof of assets (e.g., bank statements, securities, savings accounts, land registry extracts, insurance policies, etc.)
- Proof of housing costs (e.g., lease agreement or tax assessment notice for homeowners)
- Copies of contracts related to past transfers of real estate
- Decision by the Long-Term Care Insurance Fund (Classification Notice)
- Powers of attorney (e.g., guardian ID card)
Outpatient Care
If the benefits provided by the long-term care insurance fund are insufficient to meet the need for nursing care at home, supplemental social assistance benefits may be considered. This is based on the provisions of SGB XII (Social Code, Book XII). This may be the case, for example, if the actual costs of an outpatient nursing care service exceed the benefits provided by the long-term care insurance fund.
For this reason, it is advisable to contact the Fulda District Office in advance: either the case worker responsible for long-term care assistance in facilities under SGB XII or the Counseling and Coordination Office (BEKO), Tel. 0661 6006-0. There, you can obtain application forms and specific information.
When it comes to social assistance—unlike with long-term care insurance—you must first use your own income and assets to the extent reasonably expected of you. Therefore, the following documents are important for the social assistance eligibility review:
- A fully completed application for outpatient nursing care assistance
- Proof of income (e.g., pension adjustment notices)
- Proof of assets (e.g., bank statements, securities, savings accounts, land registry extracts, insurance policies, etc.)
- Proof of housing costs (e.g., lease agreement or tax assessment notice for homeowners)
- Copies of contracts related to past transfers of real estate
- Decision by the Long-Term Care Insurance Fund (Classification Notice)
- Proof of outpatient care costs (e.g., cost estimate or invoice from the care provider)
- Powers of attorney (e.g., guardian ID card)