Can an au pair be funded through Pflegeversicherung (statutory long-term care insurance) benefits?
An au pair can be an enormous relief in everyday life for families with a child with a disability.
But of course, at some point the question also arises:
Are there ways to cover part of the resulting costs through Pflegeversicherung benefits?
Many families come across two terms in this context: Verhinderungspflege and Entlastungsbetrag.
Both benefits come from the Pflegeversicherung and require a corresponding Pflegegrad (level of care need) or the respective statutory requirements. The family's income and assets are not decisive for the basic entitlement to the benefit.
But can these benefits also be used for an au pair?
Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered quite so generally.
Verhinderungspflege and the au pair
Verhinderungspflege (respite care benefit) is intended to ensure care continues when the person who normally provides care is temporarily unavailable – for example because they need a break, are ill, or are otherwise unable to provide care for a time.
From our placement practice, we know that host families repeatedly consider the possibility of also using Verhinderungspflege in connection with their au pair.
However, there is an important point here:
An au pair normally lives together with the family in the household.
Special rules and reimbursement limits apply to substitute care provided by people who live in the same household as the person needing care.
That is why we explicitly advise our families against simply assuming that a certain amount will be reimbursed.
Ask your own Pflegekasse beforehand
Before you calculate with a reimbursement, you should discuss your individual situation directly with the Pflegekasse.
In doing so, explicitly explain that it concerns an au pair who lives with the family in the shared household during their stay.
Ask them to explain whether, and under what conditions, Verhinderungspflege benefits can be used in your specific case, and what evidence the Pflegekasse requires for this.
Clarifying this in advance protects you from counting on money that may later not be reimbursed, or not in the amount expected.
And what about the Entlastungsbetrag?
The Entlastungsbetrag (monthly relief allowance) is also a benefit from the Pflegeversicherung.
However, different requirements apply here.
The Entlastungsbetrag cannot be used freely for just any person who supports a family in everyday life. Which services can be billed through it is regulated by law and depends, among other things, on recognised or approved providers.
That is why here, too, it should not automatically be assumed that the costs of an au pair can be reimbursed through the Entlastungsbetrag.
Care benefits can still be an important part of financing
For families with a child who has a Pflegegrad, it is generally worth taking a close look at which benefits are available to them and how these can be sensibly combined.
Because families with a high level of support need in particular often use more than just one single form of relief.
An au pair can be part of this support system.
Other Pflegeversicherung benefits can be used in parallel for professional or recognised support services.
Which combination makes sense for a family always depends on the individual situation.
Our tip from Besondere Sterne
If you are considering taking in an au pair and including Pflegeversicherung benefits in your financing, clarify this directly with your Pflegekasse beforehand.
Ask specifically about your personal situation and point out that the au pair lives in your household during their stay.
Because even though we know from experience that many of our host families consider using Verhinderungspflege, in the end it is the responsible Pflegekasse that decides on reimbursement in the specific case.
We want to show you possibilities – but not promise a reimbursement we cannot guarantee.
This way, you can plan realistically from the start and check which support works best for your family, both financially and organisationally.
