Care levels 1-7: All services at a glance

Caregiving can be challenging - emotionally, organizationally and financially. If someone in your family needs long-term support in everyday life, you are probably asking yourself a lot of questions: What level of care is right for our situation? How much care allowance are we entitled to? And how does the application process even work?

 

In Austria there are seven levels of care, depending on Nursing are graded - from light assistance to intensive round-the-clock care. These levels determine how much care allowance you receive to make everyday life easier for you and your relatives.

In this guide you will find all the important information - clearly explained and up-to-date for 2025: a clear table of care levels, the exact euro amounts, the requirements, application information and also special regulations - e.g. for . For example, at Dementia or caring for children.

At Noracares, our goal is not only to inform you, but also to support you - with heart, clarity and genuine expertise.

 

 

 

Care levels in Austria: important facts

Care allowance has been available in Austria since 1993. It is a lump-sum cash benefit that is intended to cover at least part of the financial outlay incurred as a result of the need for care. The amount of the care allowance depends on the care level to which the patient has been classified.

 

This care level is in turn defined by the number of hours that must be spent on the necessary care. Each individual care level is therefore based on a specific catalog of benefits. So how much care allowance do you get in which care level?

 

How do I find out the care level?

First, a Application for care allowance. This can be done by the person concerned themselves or by a relative. A medical expert opinion is then commissioned. This means that a doctor or a registered nurse or a qualified health and nursing professional pays a home visit to the person in need of care, which is of course announced in advance.

 

After this home visit, the expert report will be drawn up. Based on the results of this home visit, it is determined which of the 7 care levels the patient will be classified in. This is based on the guidelines of the classification ordinance to the Federal Care Act.

 

This regulation specifies the criteria for assessing the need for care. If you or your relatives have already received a classification notice, you can look here to see what is meant by each term.

Have you or one of your relatives already been classified into a care level, but have been classified incorrectly? You can read here what you can do in such a case.

In general, there is an entitlement to care allowance if the following conditions are met (source: Ministry of Social Affairs):

• permanent need for care and assistance due to a physical, mental or psychological disability or a sensory impairment that is expected to last at least six months

 

• permanent care needs of more than      65 hours per month

 

• usual residence in Austria (under certain conditions, the care allowance can also be paid in an EEA state or in Switzerland)

 

In addition, the need for care must last at least 6 months in order to be recognized as such.

 

What does need for care mean?

 

The legislator distinguishes between care measures and assistance measures when it comes to the need for care. Care measures include, for example:

• Preparation (and ingestion) of meals

 

• Help with taking medication

 

• Dressing and undressing

 

• Body care

 

• Toilet support

 

• etc.

 

Auxiliary functions include, among others:

• Procuring food, Medications and other daily necessities

 

• Cleaning the home and everyday items

 

Which care level includes which benefit?

 

The following is an overview of the individual care levels in Austria, including requirements and monthly care allowance:

What are the care levels in Austria?

In Austria, there are seven care levels, which are based on a person's monthly care needs. The more support you need, the higher the care level - and the more care allowance you are entitled to.

 

Care allowance 2025: current amounts & care requirements at a glance

Here you can find an overview of the current care allowance amounts according to the Federal Care Allowance Act (BPGG):

 

Note: In the case of certain illnesses (e.g. dementia or a special need for care), it may be necessary to use a more difficult font. For certain illnesses (e.g. dementia) or a special care requirement, an aggravation supplement may be granted, which influences the level.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at

Care level 5

Care requirements of more than 180 hours if extraordinary care is required. This is the case if

> a nurse must be on permanent standby without being constantly present

> a nurse must check at regular, scheduled intervals

> more than 5 care units, one of them also at night, are required

Monthly care allowance € 1073.60

Care level 6

care needs of more than 180 hours, if care measures have to be provided during the day and night that cannot be coordinated in terms of time or if the permanent presence of a caregiver is required during the day and night because there is a probability of danger to oneself or others

Monthly care allowance € 1 519,30

Care level 7

need for care for more than 180 hours if no purposeful movements of the four extremities are possible or an equivalent condition exists

Monthly care allowance € 2061,80

Despite the care allowance in the various care levels in Austria, problems can arise when financing a caregiver. However, there are also other subsidies that you can apply for - you can find out more here.

Certain groups of people in need of care, such as the visually impaired, are assigned a minimum classification. These classifications are as follows:

• Highly visually impaired

At least care level 3

• Blind

At least care level 4

• Deafblind

At least care level 5

• Wheelchair users aged 14 and over who can operate the wheelchair themselves

At least care level 3 to 5

 

Applying for care allowance - Your steps at a glance

 

Prerequisites for care allowance in Austria

 

Conditions for care allowance - Who is entitled?

 

In order to receive care allowance, the following criteria must be met:

• Care requirement over 65 hours per month
• The condition is expected to last at least 6 months
• The habitual residence is in Austria
• There is a physical, mental or psychological impairment

 

How do you apply for care allowance in Austria? (step-by-step)

1. Apply
   Submit the application to your insurance carrier:
   • PVA (Pensionsversicherungsanstalt)
   • SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbstständigen)
   • BVAEB (for civil servants & railroad workers)
2. Prepare documents
   • Completed application
   • Findings, diagnoses, medical reports
   • Care diary (optional, but helpful)
3. Wait for an assessment A medical assessor will come to your home and assess your care needs.
4. Classification & payment After the assessment, you will receive a notification with your care level and the corresponding amount.

 

How does the care allowance classification work?

The assessment is carried out by doctors or care professionals. They will assess how much time you need help with:

each month

• Personal care
• Mobility
• Food intake
• Household management
• Medication administration

Tip: Keep a care diary to document your needs in a comprehensible way.

 

What is an aggravation supplement?

An aggravation surcharge is granted if the maintenance effort is particularly high, e.g. for:

• Dementia
• mental illness
• Night care
• Deafblindness

This supplement can influence the classification and increase the care allowance.

 

Care allowance for children and young people

Also Children and young people with significant care needs are entitled to care allowance. The assessment is child-oriented, with particular attention paid to:

• development status
• Need for constant supervision
• Additional care needs in everyday life

 

Care allowance and 24-hour care

If you require a very high level of care, 24-hour care may also be necessary. From Care level 3 there are subsidies for this:

• Prerequisite: recognized need & proof of care
• Application via the Social Ministry Service or responsible regional offices

 

 

Sources & further links:

• Care allowance: oesterreich.gv.at
• Ministry of Social Affairs - Care Allowance
• Pflege.gv.at - Care levels

 

Severity supplement

 

An aggravation surcharge can be applied to adults, but also to children and young people up to the age of 15. years of age. These are the requirements for the hardship allowance and its amount:

Difficulty allowance for children and young people

• severe mental or psychological disability

From birth up to the age of 7, a monthly allowance is paid. A flat rate of 50 hours per month is credited

From the age of 7 until the age of 15

. From the age of 7 until the age of 15, a flat rate of 75 hours per month is credited

Disability allowance for adults

• severe mental or psychological disability

 

• People suffering from dementia

 

From the age of 15, a flat-rate monthly allowance is paid. A flat rate of 25 hours per month is credited from the age of 15

 

What is care level 3 all about?

Care level 3 entails something else besides its flat-rate cash benefit: If a person in need of care has been classified in level 3, he or she can - under further certain conditions - receive an additional promotion apply for 24-hour care.

 

Additional support options

In certain cases, people in need of care can apply for additional subsidies, for example via a provincial health fund or a health care institution. Exceptional care needs are often also supported by the federal government or a provincial health fund.

 

 

 

 

Care doesn't just affect the body - it also touches the heart. The decision to apply for care allowance or to deal with the care levels in Austria is often associated with many uncertainties. But you are not alone. 

Now you know what care levels there are, how much the 2025 care allowance is, who is entitled to it and how the application works. You have an overview of the requirements, special regulations and also what is important during the assessment. 

If you have the feeling that it's all getting too much - no problem. We at Noracares are here for you. We'll guide you through the next steps, answer your questions and help you find the right support for your situation. 

You need help with Application or want to know which care level is right for you? Then get in touch with us - without obligation & with heart.