For children who require care, the care level is generally determined by comparing their limitations in independence and abilities with those of children of the same age. Example: During the first month of life, an infant is not yet able to roll over in bed or lift its head. That is taken into account in the evaluation. It is not until 9 months of age that an infant is expected to roll from their stomach to their back without assistance. Then he will be classified as self-employed.

The evaluators are tasked with conducting a thorough assessment of the child’s history—the “child-specific medical history”—in order to understand the child’s individual development and specific care needs to record. For example, questions are also asked about the course of the pregnancy and the birth. It is helpful to have the “Yellow Book” (child health checkup booklet) on hand. A specially designed form has been developed for the records kept as part of the assessment, which is tailored to the specific needs of children.

Children aged 0 to 18 months who require care are classified one care level higher than older children. They remain there without further evaluation until they are 18 months old. An exception would apply if an upgrade were necessary from a technical standpoint. The aim is to avoid frequent evaluations during the first few months of life, which can be stressful for parents.

After the child turns 18 months old, a standard care level assessment is conducted; children who have already been assessed do not need to undergo another assessment.

Starting at age 11, the same calculation rules regarding long-term care apply to children as to adults. When submitting an application, however, an assessment form designed specifically for children is used, which contains age-appropriate wording.