Apply for short-term care
Temporary inpatient care in a nursing home, for example, following a hospital stay or if the caregiver is unavailable.
How to proceed
- 1
Find a short-term care spot at an accredited facility
Directly with the nursing home, not through the long-term care insurance provider.
- 2
Submit an application to the long-term care insurance fund
Send it in a simple letter or using the long-term care insurance fund’s form, along with the long-term care allowance card.
- 3
Reimbursement of expenses
The long-term care insurance fund covers up to €1,774 per calendar year (which may be increased by the respite care budget).
Responsible authority
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
Fees
Varies by case
Processing time
3 days
Official: max. approx. 1 weeks
Online application
In person or by post
Common mistakes
- • Unused respite care budget cannot be transferred to short-term care
- • Failure to plan for a nursing home in advance
Common reasons for rejection
- • Care level below 2
- • Budget exceeded (max. €1,774 per calendar year)
You can usually file an objection against a rejection.
The essentials before applying
Who is eligible?
Individuals requiring care at care level 2 or higher, for up to 8 weeks per calendar year.
Income limit
The limit varies by household and region – see the table at the responsible authority or in the application assistant.
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. 3 days
Success rate
approx. 92.0 % (estimate)
Most common mistakes
- •Unused respite care budget cannot be transferred to short-term care
- •Failure to plan for a nursing home in advance
Common reasons for rejection
- •Care level below 2
- •Budget exceeded (max. €1,774 per calendar year)
Alternatives
- Check related services in the application assistant
- Use social counselling before applying
If rejected
File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.