These are the most important legal requirements:

• Long-term care insurance benefits, combined with income or a pension, are generally insufficient, and the individual’s assets have been depleted.
• In cases of costly, intensive long-term care, the benefits provided by long-term care insurance—which are capped at a certain level—as well as income and assets are insufficient.
• In the case of inpatient care, patients cannot cover the costs of room and board themselves.

The application for long-term care assistance must be submitted to the appropriate social services office. It should be submitted immediately if necessary, as costs will not be covered retroactively. Because care assistance is handled differently in each federal state, please contact the social services office directly with any questions.

The Social Services Office covers the following costs if a person is determined to be in need:

• Care Allowance for Family Caregivers
• Home Care Provided by a Home Care Agency
• Day Care
• Respite Care
• Care Aids
• Full-time residential care in a nursing home, if necessary (decided on a case-by-case basis)
• Living Expenses Assistance: A lump-sum payment made directly to the individual if the person requiring care is residing in a nursing home or facility for people with disabilities. This allows you to buy personal items such as cosmetics, magazines, etc.

Long-term care assistance can also be provided as part of a personal budget upon request. Instead of receiving benefits in kind, the applicant receives a corresponding cash benefit to purchase the necessary assistance on their own.