The child discount in long-term care insurance lowers the contribution of parents who raise several children. Many employees do not know from which child it applies, how long it runs or who pays it. This guide explains the rules and works through an example.
Short answer: Parents in statutory long-term care insurance in Germany have paid a contribution discount since 1 July 2023. It starts with the second child and amounts to 0.25 percentage points per child, counting children two to five. Children count until the end of the month in which they turn 25. The employee bears the discount alone. The standard contribution rate has been 3.6 percent since 1 January 2025. Last updated: November 2026.
The key points in brief
- The discount does not apply to the first child. It starts with the second child.
- For each counted child the employee share falls by 0.25 percentage points, for children two to five.
- Children count until the end of the month in which they turn 25.
- The employee bears the discount alone. The employer share stays at half of the standard rate.
- The counterpart is the childless surcharge of 0.6 percentage points for insured persons without children from age 23.
Who receives the contribution discount in long-term care insurance?
The discount depends on the number of children, not on the age of the parents. The German Pension Insurance describes the rule as follows: from the second to the fifth child, parents receive a contribution discount of 0.25 percent per child. The first child is therefore not counted. The discount also applies to parents who are themselves not yet 23 years old.
Children count until the end of the month in which they turn 25. Parenthood has to be proven. Biological, adopted, foster and stepchildren each follow their own rules, which are examined case by case.
How much contribution does a parent save with three children?
Assumption: an employee has three children who count for the discount and a contribution-liable monthly salary of 3,000 euros. At a contribution rate of 3.6 percent, the total contribution is 108 euros. The employee share is half of that, that is 54 euros.
The second and third child count, which means two discounts of 0.25 percent each. The employee share therefore falls by 0.5 percent, which equals 15 euros per month. The employee contribution is then 39 euros, a relief of 180 euros over the year. The employer share is not affected.
| Number of children who count | Discount for the employee | Assumption: monthly relief at 3,000 euros salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 0.00 percent | 0.00 euros |
| 2 children | 0.25 percent | 7.50 euros |
| 3 children | 0.50 percent | 15.00 euros |
| 4 children | 0.75 percent | 22.50 euros |
| 5 children or more | 1.00 percent | 30.00 euros |
The table is our own calculation based on the scale published by the German Pension Insurance. Your payslip remains the reference, because it shows whether the number of children has been taken into account.
What happens when a child turns 25?
In the month in which a child completes the 25th year of life, the child drops out of the calculation. The discount then changes with the number of children who count. Parents with several younger children should keep the birth dates in view, because the deduction changes step by step over the years.
How does the discount relate to the childless surcharge?
The childless surcharge is the counterpart. Insured persons without children have paid a surcharge of 0.6 percent since 1 July 2023, from the completion of their 23rd year of life. Exemptions apply, among others, to members born before 1 January 1940, to people doing military or civilian service, and to recipients of Bürgergeld. For students, our article on care insurance during studies explains the surcharge (in German).
What does the 2027 care reform plan for the surcharge?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the government bill for the Care Restructuring Act (Pflegeneuordnungsgesetz) provides for an increase of 0.3 points from 1 January 2027. The surcharge for people without children would thus rise from 0.6 to 0.9 percent. The federal cabinet adopted the draft on 30 September 2026. The law has not yet entered into force, and the Bundestag has not yet decided. The earlier draft bill of June 2026 still named 0.7 percent, a figure that has been superseded. You will find the current status in our overview of the care reform 2027 (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I receive the discount automatically?
The discount is reflected in the contribution calculation through the number of children. Since 1 July 2025 the number of children has been collected digitally through the DaBPV procedure, and participation is mandatory for employers. Check therefore whether your children appear on your payslip, and report changes in good time.
Does the discount also apply if I am under 23 myself?
Yes. According to the German Pension Insurance, the discount also applies to parents who are not yet 23 years old. The decisive factor is the number of children who count. The childless surcharge, by contrast, applies only from completion of the 23rd year of life.
Until what age does a child count?
A child counts until the end of the month in which it completes the 25th year of life. After that it no longer counts for the discount. Parents whose children were born close together should note the relevant months in their calendar.
What does the discount mean with two children?
With two children the calculation counts only the second child, which means a discount of 0.25 percent. Assumption with a monthly salary of 3,000 euros: 7.50 euros per month, roughly 90 euros per year. The amount is small, but it grows with each further child who counts.
Where can I find the contribution rate for the current year?
The standard contribution rate in statutory long-term care insurance has been 3.6 percent since 1 January 2025. The GKV umbrella association publishes the calculation parameters every year in a fact sheet. Current values are found there and on your payslip.
What to do now
- Count the children you can report as counting for the contribution procedure, and check whether the age of each child is within the limit.
- Compare your payslip with the example in this guide to see whether the discount is included.
- Report changes in the number of children or in a birth date to your employer so that they reach the procedure.
- Follow the care reform until it enters into force before you make decisions for 2027.
Related articles
- Care reform 2027: what is settled and what is still in progress
- Care contribution 2027: what employees and employers pay
- Long-term care insurance during studies: childless surcharge from 23
- Private long-term care cover at 25: sensible or too early?
Sources: German Pension Insurance, lexicon entry on the surcharge and discount in long-term care insurance (as of 17.05.2026), Federal Ministry of Health, press release on the cabinet decision of 30 September 2026 (in German); Bundesrat, Drucksache 587/26, government bill (9 October 2026, in German), Federal Government, Care Restructuring Act, GKV umbrella association, fact sheet on calculation parameters 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
