Automatically translated version. The German original is authoritative; all amounts and legal references are unchanged. Zur deutschen Fassung.
Entlastungsbetrag: 131 € per Month — How to Use It Correctly
Every Pflegegrad (care level) — even Pflegegrad 1 — is entitled to 131 € per month for everyday support. Yet millions of euros expire every year because families do not know about the Entlastungsbetrag (relief amount) or shy away from the reimbursement process. Here is how to claim it.
What Is the Entlastungsbetrag?
The Entlastungsbetrag (relief amount, § 45b SGB XI) is an earmarked reimbursement of up to 131 € per month (since 01/2025, unchanged in 2026) for services that support people in need of care or give family caregivers a break. It comes in addition to Pflegegeld (care allowance) and Pflegesachleistung (in-kind care benefits).
What You Can Use It For
- Household help & everyday companionship through providers approved under state law (the most common case — e.g. neighborhood-help associations)
- Day and night care as well as short-term care (co-payments)
- Outpatient care services — at Pflegegrad 2–5 for companionship and household tasks, at Pflegegrad 1 even for personal care
How Reimbursement Works
- Find an approved provider and agree on the service.
- Pay the invoice yourself first and keep the receipts.
- Submit the receipts to the Pflegekasse (many funds offer apps or forms for this) — up to 131 €/month is reimbursed.
- Alternatively: sign a declaration of assignment (Abtretungserklärung), and the provider then bills the fund directly.
Unused amounts accumulate and remain available until 30 June of the following year — so it pays to take stock at the end of June.
Organize care together — with Liova
Liova tracks your relief budget automatically: record expenses, follow the "submitted/reimbursed" status, and never let money expire again.
Try free for 14 daysFrequently Asked Questions
Who is entitled to the Entlastungsbetrag?
Everyone in need of care with Pflegegrad 1 to 5 who is cared for at home. This includes Pflegegrad 1 — where it is often the most important benefit of all.
Is the Entlastungsbetrag paid out in cash?
No. It is a reimbursement: you pay upfront, submit the invoice from an approved provider to the Pflegekasse, and get up to 131 € per month back.
Does unused money expire?
Not immediately. Unused amounts are carried over into the following year and can still be used there until 30 June. After that, they expire.
What may I use the Entlastungsbetrag for?
For day and night care, short-term care, services from outpatient care providers (at Pflegegrad 1 even for personal care), and everyday-support services approved under state law — such as household helpers, care groups, or everyday companions.