Social assistance; applying for assistance for the elderly

They can apply for special measures to help the elderly in order to enable them to participate independently in life in the community and to strengthen their ability to help themselves.

Assistance for the elderly is part of social welfare assistance in other life situations.

Assistance for the elderly includes, for example

• Services for activities and social engagement, if desired.
• Services for obtaining and maintaining a home that meets the needs of the elderly person.
  This also includes age-appropriate furnishings in the home, e.g. non-slip flooring, installation of easy-to-use heating systems.
• Advice and support on all aspects of care, e.g. on age-appropriate forms of housing, suitable places in a home, help at home, care or care services.
• Advice and support in all matters relating to the use of age-appropriate services, e.g. pick-up and delivery services or home emergency calls.
• Services for attending events or facilities that serve the social, entertainment, educational or cultural needs of the elderly, e.g. special events.
• Services that enable elderly people to stay in contact with people close to them, e.g. travel assistance.

If there is an entitlement to basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity or to care insurance benefits (including advice), these take precedence over assistance for the elderly.

• When applying, the following documents in particular are required:
  • Identity card or passport (or other documents that can identify the person beyond doubt)
  • If applicable, a statement from the nursing care insurance fund and an expert opinion from the medical service of the health insurance funds
  • Proof of income
  • Proof of assets (e.g. for capital-forming insurance (life insurance, building society savings insurance, Riester pension contracts, death benefit insurance, funeral provisions and the like, savings accounts, land, real estate, valuables, motor vehicles)
  • Bank statements
  • Additional documents may be required. The scope of the documents required depends on the specifics of the individual case.

Assistance for the elderly is granted for age-related and possibly financial needs.

Assistance for the elderly in the form of advice and support is provided when necessary, regardless of income and assets.

Other benefits, such as benefits in kind and cash benefits, are only granted within the framework of assistance for the elderly if the income of the elderly person does not exceed the income limit according to §§ 85 ff. of the Social Security Code XII (basic amount of twice the standard needs level 1 + 70% of the standard needs level 1 for other family members + reasonable accommodation costs) and there are no sufficient assets.

• Applications for assistance for the elderly can be submitted to the competent authority.
• This authority will determine the need for assistance.
• If the requirements are met and the income and financial circumstances do not prevent assistance from being granted, an approval notice will be issued.

This assistance begins as soon as the competent body or a body commissioned by it becomes aware that the conditions for the benefit are met.

A decision on the application will be made immediately. The processing time depends, among other things, on the completeness of the information and the submission of the evidence required for processing the application.

The social assistance provider only claims maintenance from spouses and first-degree relatives (children) on account of the assistance provided to people in need of care (e.g. because it covers the costs of a stay in a retirement home or nursing home). Generous income protection applies in favor of those liable for maintenance. Maintenance claims against children and parents are not to be taken into account if their total annual income does not exceed EUR 100,000.