Applying for care allowance

If you meet the requirements for receiving care allowance, you must submit a care allowance application in order to receive payments.

How and where can I apply for care allowance?

You submit the application for care allowance to the social insurance provider responsible for paying your pension.
 

Note: Persons who do not receive a pension must submit the application to the pension insurance institution. This includes, for example

  • employed persons, 
  • persons receiving minimum benefit,
  • persons who are co-insured with others, such as housewives, househusbands or children.

You can use the same application form for the care allowance application and an application for an increase. You will find the correct application form under the corresponding link:

What happens after the application has been submitted?

After you have submitted the care allowance application, a doctor or a nurse will visit the person in need of care at home. In addition, a trusted person may be present and provide additional information about the care situation. The applicant's health condition is examined and the level of care allowance is determined.

After the assessment, you will receive a written decision. This decision will state whether the application has been approved or rejected. If approved, it will also indicate the care allowance level granted and the amount of care allowance the person in need of care will receive.

Note: Additional care hours may be credited if more time is required for care. These additional hours are known as hardship supplements. This applies to the following people, for example:

  • Persons with severe mental or psychological disabilities
  • Persons with dementia

Additional hours are particularly considered when these individuals have severe behavioural issues that make care more demanding, for example, when the caregiver must show increased patience, attention, or empathy. Depending on the person‘s age, the following extra hours may be credited:

  • 50 hours up to the 7th birthday 
  • 75 hours up to the 15th birthday
  • 45 hours starting at the age of 15

Under the following link you will find more information on the hardship supplement. Click here:
 

Hardship supplement - oesterreich.gv.at

How can I apply for an increase in care allowance?

If your health has significantly deteriorated, your current level of care allowance may no longer be sufficient. In this case, you can apply for an increase through your social insurance provider. You may submit a request for a higher care allowance if at least one year has passed since the last decision by the authority or court of appeal, and your care needs have increased significantly due to a change in your health. Your application must include a current medical report to support the request. To do this, complete the relevant application form again and submit it to the relevant social insurance provider:

Application for an increase in care allowance - oesterreich.gv.at

The application may be rejected. In this case, you can file a care allowance claim.

Details can be found at: 

Appealing against a care allowance decision

What do I do if my application for care allowance has been rejected or I do not agree with the amount of care allowance granted?

Has your application been rejected and you are not receiving any financial support? Or do you believe that you are entitled to more care allowance than you were granted? In this case, you can appeal against the decision. This can be done either with the Labour and Social Court in your federal province or with the relevant authority or insurance provider that issued the decision. You have 3 months from the date you received the decision to appeal.

You can find more information on the following page:

Appealing against a care allowance decision

Letzte Aktualisierung: 2. Juli 2025