Because of a disability or a chronic illness, you can no longer manage your daily life independently on your own. There are certain tasks you cannot do. Or only with support. Or you need someone to accompany you. Your participation is restricted.
You cannot live and participate like others. As a person with a disability, you encounter barriers. For some people, stairs are barriers; for others, complex language is. Prejudice is also a barrier.
Support in everyday life and assistance services may be able to help you. So that you can live at home. With support and assistance. This support also relieves caregiving relatives.
Germany’s social system funds services for people with care needs, disabilities, or chronic illnesses. People who are at risk of disability can also apply for services.
Everyone should be able to live at home with dignity.
You do not have a care level (Pflegegrad). Here is how to apply for a care level:
Your statutory health insurance fund is also your long-term care insurance fund. You can call. Or you can write an email or a letter. The long-term care insurance fund will then send you an application form. You fill it out and send it back. With some long-term care insurance funds, the application form is available on the website.
The long-term care insurance fund must offer you an appointment for an assessment within two weeks. For the assessment, the Medical Service will come to your home. The assessment report determines the care level (Pflegegrad).
It is recommended: Relatives or accompanying persons should be present at an appointment with the Medical Service. This makes it more likely that all information is recorded correctly. And that the care level is not assessed too low.
It can happen that you do not agree with the assessment report. In that case, you can lodge an objection.
You can get advice.
You have a recognised disability.
Or you are at risk of disability.
People with disabilities, or people at risk of disability, can receive benefits under Social Code Book IX (SGB IX).
This also includes assistance services. Assistance services must be applied for.
The law says:
The self-determination and full, effective and equal participation of people with disabilities in life in society is to be promoted. Disadvantage is to be avoided. And disadvantage is to be counteracted.
Assistance can make an important contribution to this. Assistance can enable participation.
People with disabilities have a right to assistance services if this can promote their participation.
How is it determined whether I have a disability?
You submit an application for assistance services. The responsible rehabilitation provider then checks:
Do you have a disability? Or are you at risk of disability?
There is also another way: you can submit an application for recognition of a severe disability.
To apply for assistance, you do not need a severe disability ID card.
Social Code Book IX (SGB IX) says on the question: Who is disabled?
Section 2 Definitions
(1) People with disabilities are people who have physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with attitudinal and environmental barriers, are likely to hinder them from participating in society on an equal basis for more than six months. An impairment within the meaning of sentence 1 exists if the physical and health condition deviates from the condition typical for the person’s age. People are at risk of disability if an impairment within the meaning of sentence 1 is to be expected.
To clarify this, the responsible rehabilitation provider obtains information:
- Specialist medical reports
- Care level (Pflegegrad)
- Recognised severe disability
- Assessment by the public health office or a medical service
Important: The assessment does not only look at the disability. It also looks at the restriction of participation caused by the disability. And the restriction of participation caused by barriers in society.
You already receive integration assistance benefits under Social Code Book IX for people with disabilities. Or you receive rehabilitation benefits from the Federal Employment Agency. Or from the pension insurance. For example, you work in a workshop for people with disabilities. Or you have received mobility support. Or you are taking part in a supported employment measure. Or…
In that case, the responsible rehabilitation provider has already clarified the question of your disability. Nothing stands in the way of an application for assistance services.
You have a care level (Pflegegrad)
You live at home and are supported by relatives and/or a care service. Long-term care insurance has assigned you a care level (Pflegegrad) between 1 and 5.
From care level (Pflegegrad) 1, you have €131 per month available for care, relief or help with household tasks (relief amount).
From care level (Pflegegrad) 2, you are entitled to the joint annual amount (since 2025-07-01, respite care and short-term care have been combined into a joint annual amount). You can use this benefit flexibly and use it like assistance services.
People with care levels (Pflegegrad) 2 to 5 also receive in-kind care benefits. You can convert 40% of the in-kind care benefits into assistance services (conversion entitlement). Do you receive the care allowance paid out? You can also make use of the conversion in that case. This gives you more money available for assistance in everyday life.
Conversion entitlement for care allowance – an example
Maria has limited mobility. Because of her disability, she has difficulty leaving the house on her own. Outside, she encounters barriers everywhere. For example, kerbs and thresholds. Maria has care level (Pflegegrad) 3.
She uses the relief amount and the benefits from the joint annual amount for support in everyday life. For example, accompaniment when shopping or help with household tasks. The money is not enough for this. She applies to convert 40% of the monthly in-kind care benefits into benefits for support in everyday life. She uses 60% of the care budget as care allowance.
In-kind care benefit with care level (Pflegegrad) 3/month: €1,497 (40% of this: €598.80)
Care allowance with care level (Pflegegrad) 3/month: €599 (60% of this: €359.40)
As a result of the conversion, Maria now has €598.80 more per month available for her support in everyday life. And she still receives €359.40 in monthly care allowance.
Experience report: Emriye, mother of a child with a disability
“During the time the assistance companion was there, I rode my bike, walked into town, or simply slept. Sometimes I did nothing at all or just sat in front of the TV. Just as I wanted in that moment, how I was feeling at the time.
And that break, because I knew the assistant was taking care of him, that she was watching out for him and that I could trust her, gave me an inner calm. A break that parents of children with disabilities really urgently need.”
