Automatically translated version. The German original is authoritative; all amounts and legal references are unchanged. Zur deutschen Fassung.
Verhinderungspflege: 3.539 € per Year for Your Time Off
Anyone caring for a relative needs breaks — a vacation, their own doctor's appointments, or simply a free weekend. That is exactly what the Pflegekasse (long-term care insurance fund) pays Verhinderungspflege (respite care) for. Since the reform of 1 July 2025, it has become considerably simpler and more generous. Here is how to get the most out of it.
What Is Verhinderungspflege — and Who Gets It?
If the private caregiver is unavailable (vacation, illness, or other reasons), the Pflegekasse covers the cost of replacement care — provided by an outpatient care service, other people, or relatives. Requirements:
- Pflegegrad 2 to 5 and care at home by a private caregiver.
- No more waiting period: The former "prior-care period" of 6 months was abolished as of 01.07.2025 — the entitlement exists from the first day with Pflegegrad 2.
- Up to 8 weeks per calendar year.
The Combined Annual Budget: Up to 3.539 €
Since July 2025 there has been a combined annual budget for Verhinderungspflege and Kurzzeitpflege (short-term care): up to 3.539 € per calendar year (as of 2026). You decide flexibly how to split it — entirely for replacement care at home, entirely for short-term care in a facility, or a mix. The former complicated "reallocation" between the two pots no longer applies.
Professional or Family: Who Provides the Care Determines the Amount
| Replacement care by … | Reimbursement |
|---|---|
| Care service, neighbors, friends, distant relatives ("other persons") | up to the full annual budget of 3.539 € |
| Close relatives (up to 2nd degree) or people in the same household | normally up to 2x the monthly Pflegegeld: PG 2: 694 € · PG 3: 1.198 € · PG 4: 1.600 € · PG 5: 1.980 € — plus documented expenses (loss of earnings, travel costs) up to the annual budget |
The lower cap for relatives is meant to prevent the benefit from becoming a hidden payment to the family. Important: you can additionally claim the replacement caregiver's loss of earnings and travel costs with supporting documents — up to the full annual budget.
How to Apply and Document Correctly
- Apply informally — in advance or even retroactively (many funds have forms, but they are not mandatory).
- Document: Who provided the replacement care and when? For services, keep the invoice; for private individuals, note the date/hours/costs and attach receipts and, if applicable, proof of loss of earnings.
- Submit and keep an eye on the deadline: Claims expire after four years — so money for past breaks can often still be claimed retroactively.
Organize care together — with Liova
Plan time off, record replacement-care appointments, and collect receipts in the encrypted document safe — with Liova the whole family keeps track of the Verhinderungspflege budget.
Try free for 14 daysFrequently Asked Questions
Do I have to apply for Verhinderungspflege in advance?
No. The application can be submitted informally to the Pflegekasse — even retroactively, after the replacement care has already taken place. All that matters is documenting the date, the replacement caregiver, and the costs, and keeping receipts.
Is the Pflegegeld reduced during Verhinderungspflege?
For full-day Verhinderungspflege, the Pflegegeld continues at half the rate for the duration (up to 8 weeks per year); on the first and last day it is paid in full. If the absence lasts less than 8 hours a day (hourly Verhinderungspflege), the funds continue to pay the Pflegegeld in full according to established practice — and those days do not count toward the 8 weeks.
Who counts as a "close relative" subject to the lower reimbursement cap?
People related to the person in need of care by blood or marriage up to the 2nd degree (e.g. children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, children-in-law) or living with them in the same household. For them, the fund normally reimburses at most twice the monthly Pflegegeld — plus documented costs such as loss of earnings and travel expenses up to the annual budget.
What is the difference between Verhinderungspflege and Kurzzeitpflege?
Verhinderungspflege replaces the private caregiver at home (or by the hour while out and about), while Kurzzeitpflege (short-term care) is temporary accommodation in a residential facility. Since July 2025, both share a combined annual budget of up to 3.539 €, which you can split flexibly between the two benefits.
Does the entitlement also apply at Pflegegrad 1?
No, Verhinderungspflege and Kurzzeitpflege are only available from Pflegegrad 2. At Pflegegrad 1, however, the Entlastungsbetrag of 131 € per month can be used for hourly companionship care.