Record High in Recipients of Care Allowance

As of May 2025, the number of individuals receiving care allowance has reached a new record, surpassing half a million for the first time. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, a total of 500,554 people are currently beneficiaries of this financial support. This figure reflects an increase of 10,841 individuals, or 2.2%, compared to May 2024, when there were 489,713 recipients. Compared to the previous month, April 2025, which reported 499,112 beneficiaries, there has been an increase of 1,442 individuals, translating to a growth of 0.29%.

The distribution of recipients across different levels of care needs shows that as of April, 29.1% fell into Level 1, 20.5% into Level 2, 18.8% into Level 3, 14.5% into Level 4, 11.2% into Level 5, 4.2% into Level 6, and 1.7% into Level 7, which indicates the highest level of care required. The classification into these care levels is based on the number of hours of assistance needed by each individual.

Among the 500,554 recipients, a significant majority are women, comprising 306,541 individuals or 61.2% of the total, while men account for 194,013 recipients, equivalent to 38.8%.

The Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Korinna Schumann, attributes the rise in care allowance recipients to demographic changes and increased life expectancy. Following a period of stagnation related to the pandemic, there has been a noticeable uptick in the number of individuals eligible for this financial support in recent years.

Minister Schumann emphasized the importance of securing the care allowance and its annual adjustments, stating that it remains unaffected by budgetary cuts. In addressing the ongoing issue of workforce shortages in the caregiving sector, the minister reiterated the need for improved working conditions, which are essential for attracting sufficient personnel. She also highlighted the significance of balancing family responsibilities with professional commitments to enhance the caregiving workforce.