Bundesportal | Apply for a subsidy for measures to improve the living environment in long-term care insurance

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Publisher

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG)

Last update or date of publication

September 4, 2026

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

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If you require long-term care, your long-term care insurance provider will, under certain conditions, pay a subsidy for renovations that make your home suitable for long-term care. These include, for example, installing a stair lift, widening doorways, and replacing steps with thresholds. These modifications are intended to enable home care, make daily care easier, or help you regain as much independence as possible.

Upon application, your long-term care insurance provider will pay a subsidy of up to 4,180 EUR for such adaptations and renovations. The subsidy is limited to the actual costs of the renovation. If the renovation costs more than 4,180 EUR, you must pay the excess amount yourself.

If you live with other people in need of care, you can use the 4,180 EUR grant per measure to improve your shared living environment. The grant is limited to 16,720 EUR.

Examples of renovation projects subsidized by long-term care insurance funds include:

Adapting the living environment to your needs: window handles at wheelchair-accessible heights, stairlifts, elevators
Structural modifications: widened doors, walk-in shower, permanent ramps
Technical aids: height-adjustable kitchen appliances, lowerable wall cabinets
Improvements to the living environment: moving to a disability-accessible apartment, moving from an upper floor to the ground floor

In general, you can receive the grant once for a construction project. A repeat grant is possible if your care situation changes in such a way that further measures become necessary.

However, these requirements do not apply in nursing homes, care facilities, or residential facilities that are commercially rented by the landlord exclusively to individuals in need of care. You will not receive a grant in these cases.

Cost estimate of the craftsman's company that is to carry out the conversion.

Depending on the individual case, further documents may be required. Please contact your care insurance company for more information.

Label

Preconditions

You have a care level
The renovation project
- enables home care,
- makes home care easier for you and your caregiver, or
- enables you to lead as independent a life as possible again
the renovation does not exceed what is necessary

Hints

The assessment is the responsibility of the service providers.

You do not have to pay anything for the application.

If applicable, fees may be incurred for appraisers or experts to prepare an assessment of potential construction measures, such as those related to structural integrity or cost estimates.

If the renovation costs exceed 4,180 EUR, you must pay the amount above that threshold.

Basis for legal action

§ 29 Elftes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB XI)

§ 40 Absatz 4 Elftes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB XI)

Legal Remedies

Objection
Action before the social court

Procedure

To receive a grant for home environment improvement measures, you must submit an application to your local long-term care insurance fund. This fund is affiliated with your statutory health insurance provider, so you can use the same contact information.

It’s helpful to seek long-term care counseling before submitting your application. They can also assist you with the application process.
Check with your long-term care insurance provider to find out the exact procedure and whether there is an application form available.
You can submit the application for a grant for home environment improvement measures by mail, for example, or—with many long-term care insurance funds—in person at the office or online.
The long-term care insurance fund will review the application. It may only cover costs that are necessary and reasonable.
Wait for the decision from the long-term care insurance provider before beginning any adaptation or renovation work. You are responsible for clarifying any issues related to tenancy law and, if necessary, obtaining the landlord’s consent.
Once the work is complete and the costs incurred can be documented—for example, with an invoice from a contractor—the long-term care insurance provider will transfer the subsidy to you.

Deadlines

Please submit the application for a grant for home environment improvement measures to your long-term care insurance fund before the renovation work begins.
If the long-term care insurance fund is unable to make a decision on the application within 3 weeks of receiving it—or within 5 weeks if the Medical Service is involved—it must notify you in writing in a timely manner, stating the reasons. If no sufficient reason is provided, the benefit is deemed approved upon the expiration of the deadline.

Processing time

Processing usually takes about 2 to 8 business days.
To ensure prompt processing and a decision, your long-term care insurance provider must have all the necessary information and, if applicable, any required documents—complete and detailed.
The long-term care insurance provider will make a decision on applications in a timely manner.
Please note that the processing time listed is an average across all long-term care insurance funds. It may vary in individual cases.
The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and may be extended accordingly. The same applies if documents or records are sent by mail to you or your long-term care insurance provider.
If necessary, the Medical Service must be involved. This service requires up to an additional 5 weeks to process your request.