Means-tested care allowance

Bedarfsorientiertes Pflegegeld

The means-tested care allowance (Bedarfsorientiertes Pflegegeld) was introduced in 1993 as a scheme under which individuals are entitled to a needs-based, long-term care allowance independent of age, income and assets and of the causes necessitating care in the particular case. The goal is to compensate the additional care-related expenses by a lump-sum cash benefit. It is based on national law. It is intended to ensure the necessary care and to enable a life that is as self-determined and needs-oriented as possible. To be entitled, the following conditions must be met: permanent need of care due to disability to last at least for six months, constant need of care of more than 65 hours per month, habitual residence in Austria. From 2020, the care allowance is increased by the pension adjustment factor and is valorized annually. The amount ranges from 192 to 2061 euros. In the case of persons suffering from dementia, a disability surcharge of 45 hours is credited as a lump sum. There is an assessment to be granted the allowance (Classification Ordinance to the Federal Care Allowance Act). Currently, about 468,000 people are entitled to a long-term care allowance, i.e., over 5% of the population.