Pension contributions for family carers are a topic where the legal position is likely to change in 2027. Anyone who looks after a close relative at home should know which pension contributions the long-term care insurance pays today and which reduction the draft bill envisages. The draft has not yet been adopted by parliament.
Short answer: According to the draft Nursing Care Reform Act (Pflegeneuordnungsgesetz), from 1 January 2027 the statutory long-term care insurance would pay only 70 percent of the pension contributions for care persons. For future entitlements this would apply as well, while existing pension entitlements remain unaffected under the draft. The federal cabinet adopted the draft on 30 September 2026. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Today the long-term care insurance pays pension insurance contributions for care persons. The details follow current law.
- The draft provides for payment of 70 percent of these contributions from 1 January 2027.
- According to the draft, existing pension entitlements remain unaffected. The reduction concerns future contribution periods.
- For carers who receive an old-age pension, the duty to pay contributions is to end upon reaching the statutory retirement age.
- The law is not yet in force. The final version may differ from the draft.
What does the draft bill provide for pension contributions from 2027?
According to the explanation of the Federal Ministry of Health on the measures of the Nursing Care Reform Act, from 1 January 2027 the statutory long-term care insurance will still pay 70 percent of the pension contributions for care persons. The text presents this reduction as a separate measure and puts its financial effect for the years 2027 to 2030 at about 1.8 to 2.1 billion euros per year.
The explanation is dated 4 June 2026 and therefore describes the draft before the cabinet decision. Anyone relying on concrete figures should wait for the adopted version of the law and the statutory text.
What does the reduction mean for the carer’s pension?
Pension contributions determine how many earnings points are built up in the statutory pension insurance. If the long-term care insurance pays less, the carer would in future have to make up the difference or accept lower pension entitlements. How large this effect is depends on the duration of the care, on the care level of the person cared for and on the contribution assessment.
A reliable figure for an individual case cannot be given without the carer’s own data. The German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) can provide information on the existing pension record.
Who counts as a care person for pension contributions?
Care persons are people who look after a relative in need of care or another close person in a domestic setting. Whether someone falls under this term depends on how many hours the care involves, which care level applies and whether the person also works. The precise requirements are set out in the law and are not the same every year.
Anyone who wants to classify their own situation should not rely on rules of thumb alone. The care insurance fund of the person cared for can confirm whether the care is recognised as care activity and which care level applies.
What does the reduction mean in practice?
Pension contributions determine how many earnings points are accumulated for a period. If the care insurance pays only part of them, the pension entitlement for the same care period falls. The effect therefore does not appear immediately but only when the pension is paid.
That is why it is worth looking at the pension statement before deciding on periods of care leave.
Assumption: one year of care produces notional pension contributions of 1,000 euros. If the care insurance covers 70 percent, 700 euros remain, and the difference of 300 euros would have to be offset by the carer or through other routes. The actual amounts depend on the contribution assessment and on the law.
Which further changes in care are planned?
Further changes in care are under discussion alongside this reform. The guide on the care commission until mid-2027 (in German) shows which of them are in the law and which are only announced. Anyone caring for relatives should keep an eye on developments, because several rules may apply at the same time. The ministries’ press releases are the best way to follow the process. Ultimately the statutory text counts more than any summary, including this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will my existing pension entitlements remain?
According to the draft, existing entitlements are not affected. The reduction is meant to apply to future contribution periods. Your pension statement from the German Pension Insurance shows the status of your entitlements. It also lists the contribution periods recorded so far.
Does the reduction already apply from 2026?
No, according to the draft the reduction begins on 1 January 2027. Until then the existing rules apply, unless the legal position changes. The date of 1 January 2027 is the one named in the ministry’s explanation of the draft.
What happens if the bill is amended in parliament?
Then the details in this guide will change as well. Until promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette the current legal position applies. Changes during the legislative procedure remain open, so the current status should be checked.
Who advises on my specific pension situation?
The German Pension Insurance is the right body for your contribution record. The care insurance fund answers questions about the contributions it pays for you. For questions about personal retirement provision, a personal consultation is an option.
What to do now
- Have your pension record confirmed by the German Pension Insurance.
- Check whether the care insurance fund currently pays pension contributions for you.
- Follow the legislative procedure for the Nursing Care Reform Act and the status of the statutory text.
- Plan your own retirement provision with a buffer while the legal position is open.
Related articles
- Care reform 2027: what is settled and what is still in progress
- Care allowance 2027: what changes and what remains open
- Care leave: release from work for relatives in need of care
- Care support benefit and family care allowance: what is planned for 2027
- Care contribution 2027: what employees and employers pay
Sources: Federal Ministry of Health, explanation of the measures of the Nursing Care Reform Act (status 4 June 2026); Federal Government, Nursing Care Reform Act adopted by cabinet (status 30 September 2026); Federal Ministry of Health, FAQ on the Nursing Care Reform Act.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
