Possibility for family caregivers to be released from the obligation to work:
Generally speaking, people have to prove that they require nursing care before they can receive benefits from statutory nursing care insurance. In order to do so, they must apply to be assigned a specific level of care and undergo an official medical assessment.
As a family caregiver you have various options for being released from the obligation to work in order to have the time to care for (or organize care for) your relatives.
10 days caregiver leave
The 10 days caregiver leave allows employees to take up to 10 working days off work (per calendar year) if a close relative becomes in acute need of care or if the situation regarding care changes at short notice. This gives you time to organize care or provide care yourself. There is no need to give advance notice for this type of leave and you are protected against dismissal. During this time, you do not receive any pay from your employer. Instead, you can apply to the nursing care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) for nursing care support (Pflegeunterstützungsgeld). The one requirement which must always be met if that you must inform your employer/manager without delay.
Family caregiver leave (Familienpflegezeit)
Family caregiver leave allows you to be partly released from the obligation to work for up to 24 months, with your working hours being reduced to a minimum of 15 hours per week. In this instance, you must give your employer 8 weeks notice. You are also protected from dismissal in this type of (partial) release from the obligation to work. You are entitled to a state interest-free loan.
Caregiver leave (Pflegezeit)
There is also the possibility of taking caregiver leave (Pflegezeit). Caregiver leave means that employees can take up to 6 months full-time or part-time leave from work in order to be able to care for a close relative at home. You must give at least 10 days notice before starting caregiver leave, and during this time you are also protected from dismissal. It is also possible to take out a state interest-free loan to cover your living expenses.
Family caregiver leave and caregiver leave can be combined. However, they must follow on seamlessly from each other. You can be released from the obligation to work for a total of 24 months.
If you would like to apply for one of these options for being released from the obligation to work, please submit an informal application to the department responsible for you (P2 or P4).