Calculating care allowance hours: Correctly documenting care needs in Austria

Finding your way in the area of care allowance can be confusing and overwhelming for many people. The calculation of the required hours in particular seems complicated, as does how to make the best possible use of financial support. Whether you are caring for someone as a caregiver or are looking for support yourself – in both cases it is important to know exactly what you are entitled to and how you can access it.

This article provides you with clear information about care allowance – from the required care times, to the calculation and the application process. When care allowance is increased, the person in need of care gains greater financial flexibility and you as a caregiver receive a higher salary. This creates a win-win situation for both sides. Because we know how challenging everyday care can be, we want to make sure that everyone receives the financial support they are entitled to.

Susanne is a caregiver and lovingly looks after an elderly woman in need of care in her neighborhood. Due to physical impairments, the woman has trouble managing everyday life, so Susanne helps her with daily tasks such as household chores, shopping, and doctor’s appointments in order to enable her to live an independent life. But no matter how hard Susanne tries to keep her expenses under control, there is usually not enough money left at the end of the month. We would like to show people like Susanne how they can increase their income as self-employed caregivers through various employment models.

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Case example: Care allowance for people with dementia

Mr. Mair, 80 years old, suffers from dementia. His daughter applied for an increase in care allowance after his care needs rose due to the illness. After submitting new medical documents, Mr. Mair was upgraded from level 3 to level 5 of the care allowance.

The care levels are used to determine what help and care a person needs in everyday life. There are a total of seven care levels in Austria, which record individual care needs in hours and are supported with a corresponding amount of money. These guideline values or hours are set for individual care needs, such as personal hygiene, assistance with mobility, or meal preparation.

Increase care level: How you can actively support as a caregiver

In care, it is not only about daily supervision and support for people in need of care – bureaucratic tasks often also play a major role. An appropriate care level is crucial for many affected individuals in order to receive the necessary support. But not everyone knows how to submit the application or which documentation is required. This is where you come in as a caregiver to help increase the care level and thereby not only provide financial relief for the person in need of care, but also improve your own salary.

Many people in need of care and their relatives are unsure how to apply for a higher care level or what needs to be considered. As a caregiver, you have experience and know what matters. You can support them in increasing the care allowance.

Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs - Care allowance

Pension Insurance Institution (PVA)

• Help with submitting the application to the respective social and pension insurance institution
• Fill out the application (online or on paper)
• Submission including medical documents to prove the increased care needs

3. Preparation for the medical assessment appointment

A doctor from the health insurance fund decides on the classification of the care level. Therefore, it is important to prepare well for the assessor’s visit:

• Accompany the conversation in order to describe the current care situation
• Point out limitations that are important for the care allowance classification (e.g., incontinence, dementia, reduced mobility)

How does care level calculation work?

The bureaucratic processes surrounding care allowance can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to calculating the required hours. The calculation of care allowance is based on the number of care hours needed for daily tasks such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, and mobility assistance."
Source: noracares, Care allowance calculation: How to determine your care allowance hourly requirement and care level.

Check the care allowance level table (2025).

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Which tasks count toward the care allowance calculation and how is the care-allowance hourly requirement calculated?

For calculating the care allowance, the following care tasks are taken into account:

• Daily personal care and hygiene (help with bathing and showering)
• Help with getting dressed and undressed
• Cleaning the apartment
• Preparing meals and assisting with eating
• Help with walking and lying down, transferring from bed to chair
• Assistance with taking medication
• Household tasks (e.g., cleaning, laundry)
• Extraordinary care effort for wounds, catheters or dementia care

The calculation of the care allowance is based on the number of care hours required for daily tasks such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, and mobility assistance.

Care allowance calculator table

Care allowance amount = care needs (h/month) × factor (depending on the care level)

Calculate the monthly care times (hours/month)

Depending on the employment model, there are major differences in earnings and flexibility.

Agency model:

Caregivers who work through an agency are firmly embedded in a system. The agency handles placement between caregivers and families and takes care of contracts, billing, and in some cases accommodation and travel.

• Caregivers have little say in choosing families or working conditions.
• Caregivers are integrated into a fixed system.
• The agency handles contracts, billing, and in some cases accommodation and travel.

Placement via noracares:

In contrast, noracares focuses on direct placement between caregivers and families, without high placement fees or rigid requirements.

• Caregivers work independently and manage their income themselves.
• Direct negotiations with families enable free pricing.
• Income can be significantly higher depending on experience and qualifications.
• Caregivers have full control over their working hours and flexibility.
• No placement fees – direct arrangements with families are possible.

If you prefer security and a fixed structure, an agency may make sense – though often with lower earnings and less flexibility. If, however, you want more control over your working hours and income, noracares offers a flexible alternative where you can work independently as a caregiver – without agency fees and with greater freedom.

Care placement agencies put to the test

Stiftung Warentest examined 13 placement agencies for caregivers operating nationwide. The result? At best, “satisfactory.”

The care allowance plays a crucial role in paying caregivers, as many families use it to finance care services. The higher the care level, the more care allowance the person in need of care receives – and the more budget is potentially available to pay a caregiver. Self-employed caregivers can adjust their prices to the care effort and thus achieve fair compensation for their services. With good knowledge of care-level classification, caregivers can agree on appropriate remuneration with families.

As in any other job, the same applies in care: the more training a caregiver can show, the higher the pay.

Yes, it is definitely worthwhile if you can determine your own working conditions. Via noracares you have the opportunity to work flexibly and negotiate your fee directly with families.

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No hidden costs, no placement or care fees! That means more income for you, more freedom, and fair compensation for your valuable work. Register and become part of the noracares community!

What funding options are available for caregivers?

Caregivers in Austria can, under certain conditions, take advantage of various government grants and subsidies. Below you will find specific examples and the relevant funding bodies:

1. Subsidy for 24-hour care

People in need of care who require 24-hour care and receive at least care allowance level 3 can apply for financial support. The amount of the subsidy varies depending on the type of employment of the caregivers:

• one self-employed caregiver: monthly subsidy amount 400€
• one employed caregiver: monthly subsidy amount 800€
• two self-employed caregivers: monthly subsidy amount 800€
• two employed caregivers: monthly subsidy amount 1.600€

Funding body. You can submit the corresponding applications to the Sozialministeriumservice submit.

2. Nursing scholarship

If you are completing training in the nursing field, you can receive a nursing scholarship . This is granted for the duration of the training, but for a maximum of four years. The scholarship is aimed at job seekers as well as employees or self-employed persons who are on leave for the duration of the training or have suspended their business.

Funding body: The Public Employment Service (AMS) is responsible for awarding it.

3. Subsidy for nursing training in Upper Austria

In Upper Austria, since September 2022 there has been a subsidy for people who are completing nursing training, provided that the school location is in Upper Austria.

Funding body: Province of Upper Austria

Calculating the care allowance and assigning the correct care level can be complicated – especially if you do not know exactly what matters. Because the higher the care level, the more benefits the person in need of care is entitled to – whether in the form of cash benefits or benefits in kind. Often, people in need of care receive too low a classification because the actual care effort is not sufficiently documented.

As a caregiver, you have the opportunity, to actively help ensure that people in need of care receive the support they truly need. By assisting with applications, documentation, and accompanying them to assessment appointments, you can help ensure that a higher care level is approved. This not only ensures better care and financial security for those in need of care, but also better working conditions and salary prospects for you.

If you want to set your own working hours and shape your income flexibly, noracares offers you the opportunity to work independently as a caregiver and enjoy more freedom in your daily professional life.