The social-area budget (Sozialraumbudget) in long-term care is planned as a new benefit from care level 2 onwards, replacing the existing relief allowance (Entlastungsbetrag). This is set out in the cabinet draft of the care reform act, which the federal cabinet approved on 30 September 2026. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the maximum amount is up to 300 euros a month for people in need of care up to the age of 25.
Short answer: The social-area budget appears in the cabinet draft of 30 September 2026 and is to replace the relief allowance from care level 2. The announcement names a maximum of up to 300 euros a month, which is up to 3,600 euros a year, for people in need of care up to the age of 25. It is not yet a law. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The social-area budget is in the cabinet draft and not yet adopted.
- It is to apply from care level 2 and replace the existing relief allowance there.
- The announcement names up to 300 euros a month, or up to 3,600 euros a year.
- The maximum is tied to an age limit of 25 years. The announcement names no amount for older people in need of care.
- The announcement does not state a specific start date for the social-area budget.
What is the social-area budget?
In the draft, the social-area budget is a benefit that people in need of care can use to fund support in daily life. Which services can be paid for with it is for the final law to decide. The announcement gives no details on this, so no particular use should be assumed as certain.
The link to the existing relief allowance matters most. The announcement describes the social-area budget as a replacement for this allowance, not as an additional benefit. Anyone who uses the relief allowance today should therefore check how the transition to the new rule would affect them.
How does the social-area budget relate to the relief allowance?
The relief allowance is an existing benefit that can be used for certain services at some care levels. The social-area budget is to replace it from care level 2. The table compares both rules according to what the announcement states.
| Point | Relief allowance (until now) | Social-area budget (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Current rule | From care level 2 under the draft |
| Amount | Under current law, check the notice | Up to 300 euros a month, up to 3,600 euros a year |
| Age link | No age limit named in the announcement | People in need of care up to age 25 |
| Status | Current law | Cabinet draft 30.09.2026, not yet a law |
The table shows what the announcement says. The existing amounts of the relief allowance are set out in current law and in the notice, not in this guide. A comparison of euro amounts is therefore only meaningful with your current notice.
What does the age limit of 25 mean?
The announcement links the maximum of up to 300 euros a month to the age limit of 25 years. For young people in need of care this can be relevant, for example a child with a care level or a young adult with care needs. The announcement names no amount for older people in need of care that could be quantified here.
If you provide care and know the age of the person you look after, you can classify the figures better. The final law will show the detailed design, and the care insurer can provide information in individual cases.
What role does the care level play?
The announcement names care level 2 as the entry point. Under the draft, the social-area budget is not foreseen for care level 1, but applies to care levels 2 to 5. Which benefit belongs to which level is shown in our comparison of the care levels 1 to 5. The application for a care level is explained in our guide to applying for a care level.
The care level therefore decides whether the social-area budget can come into consideration at all. Without an established level there is no point of reference for this benefit.
How to plan the social-area budget
As long as the law is not passed, the social-area budget remains a planning figure with uncertainty. Plan with the amount that applies today and treat the draft as a possible increase. This prevents you from committing costs that may never arise.
Another point is use. Which services can be paid for with it is for the final law to decide. Ask the care insurer before you count on a particular kind of help.
Why the transition rule matters
Anyone who already uses the relief allowance has probably become used to certain services. A change to a new benefit can mean that routines, providers or billing paths change. It is therefore sensible to clarify early whether and how existing arrangements continue.
For relatives who care for a young person in need of care, the transition period is also relevant. They should check which benefits apply until the law takes effect and which rights apply afterwards. It helps to keep receipts that show how the relief allowance has been used so far.
Frequently asked questions
Is the social-area budget already adopted?
No. The cabinet draft of 30 September 2026 is a proposal of the federal government. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat must agree before the law applies. The announcement contains no date for the entry into force of this rule.
Does the social-area budget replace the relief allowance completely?
According to the announcement, it replaces the relief allowance from care level 2. How the transition works in detail, whether existing entitlements are protected and how remaining amounts are treated does not follow from the announcement.
How high is the social-area budget?
The announcement names up to 300 euros a month, or up to 3,600 euros a year, for people in need of care up to the age of 25. Whether and at what level it applies to older people in need of care is not quantified in the announcement.
Do I have to apply for the social-area budget separately?
The announcement does not regulate the application procedure in detail. Ask the care insurer once a law has been passed, and keep your notice ready.
Is there a link to the Pflegegeld?
The announcement names the cash benefit as part of the planned bundling of benefits for home care. It does not describe a direct link to the amount of the social-area budget. The current position on the cash benefit is covered in our guide to Pflegegeld 2027.
What to do now
- Check your current notice and note whether, and in what amount, the relief allowance is granted.
- Ask the care insurer when the social-area budget would apply in your case.
- Follow the legislative process before you plan with the maximum amount.
- Have the rule on use explained to you in writing once the law is in force.
Related guides
- Care reform 2027: What is settled and what is still in progress
- Pflegegeld 2027: What is planned and what is still open
- Care levels 1 to 5: which benefits belong to which level
- Relief allowance in long-term care: what it can be used for until 2026
Sources: Federal Ministry of Health, press release on the cabinet decision, 30 September 2026 (in German); Federal Government, care reform act, 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
