Overview
- Government consideration of eliminating the lowest care grade was reported via unnamed coalition sources, but the SPD’s parliamentary leader rejected the idea as unacceptable and CDU figures have stayed noncommittal.
- About 861,000 people are classified in Care Grade 1, which provides a €131 monthly relief allowance, access to caregiver training and aids, and subsidies of up to €4,180 for home modifications.
- An RWI estimate pegs potential savings near €1.8 billion annually, yet actual spending in 2024 was roughly €640 million because many eligible beneficiaries do not fully use the benefits.
- Patient advocates and researchers warn the cut would particularly harm people with dementia and could trigger earlier, costlier institutionalization, while some employer groups argue the grade offers little value and adds bureaucracy.
- The “Zukunftspakt Pflege” working group plans initial options in about two weeks and a broader package by year‑end, as the long‑term care insurance faces a projected €2 billion deficit in 2026.