Childcare allowance in Austria 2026: A guide for parents

Elias' world is colorful and full of challenges. Thanks to care allowance for children, his family can provide him with the best possible care. Your child is entitled too! So start your care allowance application now and secure a better future for your child.

Caregiver gives a child in a wheelchair a high-five, happy moment of inclusion in the hair salon

Imagine watching your child discover their world full of curiosity – a smile on their lips, their eyes shining. But sometimes these little adventures are connected with challenges that demand more than a family can manage alone. In such moments, it becomes clear how important support is.

In Austria, there is valuable help for parents whose children need special care: care allowance. It not only ensures that necessary therapies, aids, or care can be financed, but also gives families the opportunity to focus on what really matters – time with their child.

This article is more than just a guide. It accompanies you step by step, explains who is entitled to care allowance, how to apply for care allowance, and which rights and options are open to you. Together we will find out how your child can receive the support they deserve and how you as a parent can manage everyday life with strength.

Let us pave the way together – for a more carefree future for you and your child.

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What is care allowance for children?

Care allowance is like a safe anchor for families whose children need more support in everyday life than most others. Your child is a little adventurer who overcomes special challenges on their journey through life.

So that you as a parent do not have to fight wind and waves alone, there is care allowance. It offers financial help so that you can give your child the care they deserve. Whether for special therapies, aids, or additional care – care allowance stands by your side to help give your child the best possible everyday life.

Relevance for families: More than just a financial benefit

Care allowance is far more than a mere transfer into the bank account. For families, it means room to act and appreciation. In an everyday life often shaped by appointments, therapies, and special care, it fulfills three essential functions:

  • Relief in everyday life: It enables parents to purchase support – whether through professional caregivers or relief services – so they themselves can breathe for a moment and recharge their batteries.
  • Compensation for additional effort: Life with special challenges often brings higher costs. Care allowance helps cushion these financial peaks without reducing the quality of life of the whole family.
  • Self-determination: Families can decide flexibly how to use the money. Whether for converting the child’s room, specific support measures, or as compensation for the reduced working hours of one parent – the decision-making power remains with the family.

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In summary: Care allowance is the foundation on which you can build a stable and loving environment for your child, despite the additional hurdles everyday life presents.

What requirements must be met?

To receive care allowance for your child, certain requirements must be met. You can imagine this like two different kinds of keys: one determines whether you are basically eligible (Who?), and the other measures how much support is needed in everyday life (How much?).

A Latin American therapist cares for two small children in occupational therapy, playful learning environment outdoors

Who is entitled to care allowance?

Before your child’s individual situation is looked at in detail, there are some basic framework conditions that make access to care allowance possible:

  • The center of life: Your child must have their habitual residence in Austria.
  • Long-term nature: The health challenge – whether physical, mental, or psychological – must be expected to last at least six months. So this is about long-term support, not temporary illnesses.
  • The basis: As a rule, receiving the (increased) family allowance is an important indicator and often the prerequisite for starting the application process.

Necessary care needs

Infographic explaining the “care-relevant additional effort.” On the left, a box shows “same-age, healthy child” with age-appropriate basic care. On the right, a box shows “your child with special needs” with the same basic care plus an additional area “extra effort.” An arrow makes clear that only this additional effort counts for care allowance. At the bottom is the note that only the effort exceeding the normal level is financed.

Unlike adults, a special standard is applied when assessing care needs for children and adolescents up to the age of 18. The required extent of care of same-age, non-disabled children is used as the comparison value. Only the additional effort that exceeds this natural level is considered care-relevant.

  • Comparison with peers: The decisive criterion is not the diagnosis alone, but how much more help your child needs compared with a healthy child of the same age. While a two-year-old naturally needs help getting dressed, this need in a ten-year-old is clearly “additional effort.”
  • The 65-hour hurdle: In order for entitlement to exist, this additional effort must amount to more than 65 hours per month.
  • The medical assessment: An expert (usually a doctor or nursing specialist) visits you at home. This conversation is the compass for classification. They look at how much support is needed with the “activities of daily living” – these include:
  1. Personal hygiene and body care
  2. Dressing and undressing
  3. Preparation and intake of meals
  4. Using the toilet
  5. Mobility and safety in everyday life
  • Support for development: Especially in children, consideration is given to how strongly the impairment affects child development. The need for motivating guidance or constant supervision is also included in the assessment.

Each of these requirements is a building block for the bridge that supports your child. It helps a great deal if, before the assessor’s appointment, you note down which tasks in your everyday life are especially time-consuming. This ensures that no detail of your valuable care is overlooked.

Example: How to calculate the additional effort

To check eligibility, only the time that you spend more than with a healthy child of the same age counts.

The rule of thumb:
Your time spent − Normal time spent = Countable minutes

Practical example (child 7 years old):

  • Getting dressed: A healthy child gets dressed independently in 5 min. Elias needs 25 min. of intensive help.
  • Result: 20 minutes of additional effort for this process.

Repeat this calculation for all areas (hygiene, eating, mobility, guidance). If the total comes to more than 2 hours and 10 minutes per day, you break the 65-hour threshold for level 1!

Care levels and their significance

Bar chart titled “Your care level staircase 2026 (Austria).” It shows seven ascending bars for care levels 1 to 7 with the respective monthly care allowance amounts: Level 1: €206.20, Level 2: €380.30, Level 3: €592.60, Level 4: €888.50, Level 5: €1,206.90, Level 6: €1,685.40, Level 7: €2,214.80. At the bottom is the note: “The higher the care effort, the stronger your financial support.”

You can imagine care levels for children like steps on a staircase. Each level stands for a certain amount of care that your child needs in everyday life. The more time and care the assistance requires, the higher your child climbs on this staircase – and the higher the financial support that keeps your backs free.

Overview of care levels

Classification is not arbitrary, but based on the monthly additional effort in hours. Here you can see how the staircase is structured:

Table with two columns “Care level” and “Description,” explaining care levels 1 to 7. Level 1: Mild care needs – occasional support with personal hygiene or getting dressed. Level 2: Moderate care needs – regular help in everyday life, e.g. with eating or mobility. Level 3: Increased care needs – daily support with many tasks. Level 4: High level of care needs – intensive daily care, including for basic activities. Level 5: Very high care needs – around-the-clock support required, severe limitations. Level 6: Most severe care needs – comprehensive, permanent care, complete dependence on help. Level 7: Maximum care needs – continuous intensive care and support required in all areas of life.

For example, Elias can still play independently, but with many everyday things like getting dressed or eating he needs help. That is why he was placed in a middle level. A child with more severe impairments who must be cared for around the clock, on the other hand, will be in a higher level. Each level helps tailor financial support precisely to your child’s needs – so they receive the best possible care every day.

Benefits by care level for children

Illustrated infographic on “Care levels for children & benefits Austria 2026.” A staircase with seven steps shows increasing care needs and monthly amounts: Level 1 (~€206.20), Level 2 (~€380.30), Level 3 (~€592.60), Level 4 (~€888.50), Level 5 (~€1,206.90), Level 6 (~€1,685.40), Level 7 (~€2,214.80). Next to the levels are example care efforts in hours and symbols for types of support. On the right, benefits are grouped by levels: Levels 1–3: basic support such as additional therapies, aids, and cost relief. Levels 4–5: considerable effort with relief for parents, possible reduction in working hours, and access to support services. Levels 6–7: intensive care with around-the-clock support, professional help, and support to make living at home possible. At the bottom, a note on the optimal use of care allowance with a care service.

Care allowance is paid monthly in arrears (12 times a year) and is tax-free. Since it is not earmarked for a specific purpose, you have full freedom: as a parent, you decide yourself what relief you “purchase” for your child with it – whether for support through noracares, special aids, or therapies.

The care levels table 2026

Care levels & care allowance

Care level Monthly amount (as of 2026) Requirement (time needed per month)
Level 1 206,20 € over 65 hours
Level 2 380,30 € over 95 hours
Level 3 592,60 € over 120 hours
Level 4 888,50 € over 160 hours
Level 5 1.206,90 € over 180 hours + extraordinary effort
Level 6 1.685,40 € over 180 hours + temporally uncoordinable
Level 7 2.214,80 € over 180 hours + no purposeful movements

Source: pv.at/web/pflegegeld

  • Level 1 to 3: These levels cover the basic additional effort. They help finance extra therapies or small forms of support in everyday life.
  • Level 4 to 5: This already involves a considerable care effort. For example, the money can be used to reduce the parents' working hours without endangering the family's financial security.
  • Level 6 to 7: These levels are reserved for children who require intensive around-the-clock care. They make professional support possible in the home environment.

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Good to know: The care allowance is granted regardless of the parents' income. Only your child's needs matter.

How to apply for care allowance for your child

A mother with a child on her lap applies for social benefits with an advisor in an office

Applying for care allowance can feel like an exciting expedition where you have to find the right path step by step. To master the journey successfully, it is important to be well prepared and have the right tools in your bag. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you overcome the hurdles of the application.

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Infographic titled “Your expedition to care allowance: step by step.” It shows four numbered steps in a horizontal sequence: Diary – record effort. Application – contact PVA. Assessment – home visit for evaluation. Decision – receive support. Arrows between the circles illustrate the flow of the process.

Step 1: Gather information

Before you submit the application, it is important to gather all necessary information about your child's care needs. Think about what your child's daily life looks like and what special support services they need.

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Nora's tip: Keep a “care diary” for two weeks. Write down everything you do for your child that goes beyond caring for a healthy child of the same age. This is your most important document for the later home visit.

Step 2: Fill out the application

The next step is filling out the application form. This can be done online or on paper. Make sure you answer all questions clearly and completely – like a painter creating a precise picture.

You can get the form from the Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA) or online at pv.at. Since your child does not yet receive their own pension, the PVA is almost always responsible.

  • Important: The care allowance is paid from the month of application. So it is better to submit the application today rather than tomorrow – even if some documents are still missing, you can submit them later.

Step 3: Submit important documents

To complete your expedition successfully, you need certain documents to support your application. Since care allowance in Austria is independent of income, you do not need to provide payslips or proof of income. Instead, focus entirely on your child's health situation.

The required documents include:

  • Current medical findings and diagnoses: Collect all doctors' letters, hospital reports, and diagnoses documenting the care needs. (Important: You do not need to bring an official care allowance assessment – this will only be commissioned by the PVA itself in the next step).
  • Therapy and development reports: Documents from speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physiotherapy, as well as reports from kindergarten or school, help provide a better understanding of your child's everyday life.
  • Care diary: Your personal notes about the daily extra effort are a valuable addition to the medical records.

Step 4: Submit the application

Now it is time to submit your application. Check everything one last time before sending it to the responsible authority. This helps ensure that you do not forget anything important.

[Here you can download your own checklist for applying for care allowance for children.]

Tips for the process

To make the application process more efficient, keep all documents well organized and within easy reach. A digital filing system can help you stay on top of things. Set realistic time goals for completing the various steps, and do not hesitate to seek help from professionals or counseling centers if you have questions.

Mistakes can easily happen during the application process – like stumbling blocks along the way. Make sure all information is stated clearly and plainly, and ensure that you attach all required documents. A common mistake is not obtaining the medical assessment in time. To avoid this, plan for it early.

If you follow all the steps carefully, you lay a solid foundation so that your care allowance application is successful and your child receives the support they deserve.

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The care diary as a basis for calculation

Do not just note what you do, but structure it for the assessor in three columns:

  • Activity (e.g. “Help with using the toilet”)
  • Total duration (e.g. 15 minutes)
  • Of which instruction/supervision (e.g. 10 minutes of extra effort)

This is especially important in cases of “invisible care” such as autism or ADHD, where the child is physically capable but would not complete the task without your guidance.

Checklist: Download our guide for parents of neurodivergent children now.

Assessment procedure for care allowance for children

Once the application has been submitted, the next stage of your journey begins. The assessment procedure is the moment when the theoretical lines of your application meet the reality of your daily life. You can think of it like the visit of a “scout” who reads the map of your child's needs together with you.

How the assessment works: a look into your everyday life

In most cases, this appointment takes place directly in your home – where your child feels most comfortable. An expert (often a doctor or nursing professional) comes by to get an impression.

  • Getting to know each other: The assessor will talk with you and observe your child. It is not about “testing” your child like at school, but about understanding where everyday life runs into difficulties.
  • The example of Elias: Let us take little Elias again. When the assessor arrives, they may see a cheerful boy proudly showing his building blocks. But in the conversation, you as his mother explain that Elias may be great at playing, yet when it comes to putting on socks or holding a spoon, he still needs a lot of guidance and patience – much more than other children his age.
  • Time measurement: The assessor compares your descriptions with the legal requirements. They note down the extra minutes you spend on personal care, meals, or accompanying your child to therapies.

Preparing for the appointment: your toolbox

To help you feel confident when the doorbell rings, you can pack your “toolbox” for the conversation:

  1. The care diary: This is your most important tool. For a few days in advance, write down every minute you invest “extra.” We often no longer notice the many small tasks because they have become routine – but for the care allowance, they count!
  2. Honesty instead of bravery: As parents, we are programmed to emphasize our children's progress (“He can almost do that on his own already!”). During the assessment, however, it is important to describe the reality on bad days. Explain what does not work and where you have to step in and help.
  3. Folder of medical reports: Have all current reports ready so that the assessor can review them directly if needed. This saves time and supports your descriptions.
  4. Get support: You do not have to go through this appointment alone. A trusted person who knows your child well (e.g. grandma, grandpa, or a mobile care worker) is welcome to be there and support you emotionally.

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Remember this: The assessor is not your opponent. They are there to objectively determine the support your child deserves. The more clearly you paint the picture of your everyday life – just like with Elias – the more precisely the support can be determined in the end.

Appeal: What to do in case of rejection or incorrect classification?

Sometimes, during a brief visit, an assessor does not see the full picture of your everyday life. In that case, you can challenge the decision notice.

  • The deadline for filing a claim: In Austria, after receiving the written decision, you generally have four weeks to file a claim with the competent Labour and Social Court.
  • Free procedure: The court procedure in social law matters is generally free of court fees for you as the claimant. So there are no fees for the court itself.
  • Get support: You do not have to go down this path alone! Organizations such as the Chamber of Labour (AK) or the Austrian Disabled Persons Association (ÖZIV) offer free advice and often even represent parents in court.
  • The new assessment: As part of the claim, a court-sworn expert is usually appointed. This person often examines the situation again in much greater detail. Quite often, this route leads to a correct upgrade to a higher level.

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Important: A lawsuit is not an “attack,” but your legitimate right to ensure that the classification matches your child’s actual needs. Stay persistent – it is worth it for your child’s future!

Special regulations for children with disabilities

The world of a child with a disability is often more complex than that of an adult. That is why Austria has special rules to ensure that not only the “stopwatch” counts, but also the actual burden on the family. These rules are like an additional safety net that steps in where minutes alone are not enough.

Hardship supplements: Recognizing the invisible burden

Some challenges cannot simply be expressed in care minutes. If, for example, a child has a severe intellectual or psychological disability, care is often particularly intensive, emotionally demanding, and unpredictable.

“The particularly intensive care of children and adolescents with very severe disabilities is taken into account through an additional flat-rate hardship supplement if at least two independent, severe functional impairments are present due to the disability.” – oesterreich.gv.at

This is where the hardship supplements come into play:

  • What is it? It is a time bonus (in hours) that is added as a flat rate to the calculated care need.
  • Why does it exist? It acknowledges that caring for a child with a high need for orientation or behavioral issues (e.g. in cases of severe autism or genetic particularities) represents an extreme psychological burden.
  • The value: In many cases, this supplement leads to a higher care level because it recognizes the “invisible” effort of constant emotional presence and supervision.

Autism, ADHD & Neurodiversity

There is often a belief that care allowance is only available for physical limitations. Yet especially for children with autism spectrum disorders or pronounced ADHD, the caregiving effort in everyday life is enormous – it is just often “invisible.”

What matters here is not the stopwatch during washing, but the psychological support and structuring:

  • Guidance instead of a physical helping hand: Your child may be physically able to get dressed alone, but needs 30 minutes of verbal guidance and motivation so they do not lose focus? That is care-relevant guidance.
  • Monitoring & safety: Children who cannot assess dangers or tend to run away require “24/7 vigilance.” This supervisory effort is a key factor for classification.
  • Structuring everyday life: If the day would end in crises (meltdowns) without your intensive preparation and support, you are providing valuable therapeutic educational work that is taken into account for care allowance.

A heartfelt tip for the assessment: Do not mention only what your child can do theoretically, but how much support they need to actually do it. In the care diary, document especially the times of “readiness to intervene” – meaning the moments when you must be ready to regulate or protect your child.

Children’s Classification Regulation (Kinder-EinstV): The fair standard

So that the assessment does not become guesswork, the Classification Regulation under the Federal Care Allowance Act serves as the binding set of rules.

  • Fixed values vs. time values: On the one hand, the regulation provides fixed time values for certain activities (such as washing or eating). On the other hand, time values for individual care measures are determined individually in order to reflect the actual care needs of children as realistically as possible.
  • Age groups: Since a healthy child is constantly developing, the comparison values also change. A three-year-old child naturally needs more help than a ten-year-old. The regulation takes these developmental steps into account precisely.
  • Special features in severe cases: It also regulates how to proceed in the case of children with the most severe intellectual or physical disabilities who, for example, require ventilators or special tube feeding.

A look back at Elias: In Elias’s case, for example, it was taken into account that because of his developmental delay, at the age of six he still needs the same intensive guidance when getting dressed as a toddler. Without the Children’s Classification Regulation, this time difference might perhaps be overlooked – but in this way it is recognized as a clear additional effort.

Additional support options

Care allowance is a strong foundation, but everyday life with a special child often resembles a large puzzle. So that all the pieces come together into a stable picture, Austria offers additional financial aids and signposts that can ease the burden on you.

Further financial assistance: Expanding the net

In addition to care allowance, there are supplementary benefits that often go hand in hand and increase your family’s financial flexibility:

  • Increased family allowance: This is often the first step. If your child has a significant disability (at least 50 percent), you receive an additional supplement of 189.20 euros per month on top of the regular family allowance (as of 2026).
  • School travel subsidy: If Elias or your child cannot take the bus because of the disability and you have to bring him/her to school yourself, there is financial support for the travel costs – often even if the school route is shorter than two kilometers.
  • Subsidies for aids & modifications: Whether it is a disability-adapted car seat, ramps for the home, or special communication devices – the Social Ministry Service or the provincial governments often offer one-time grants to help cover these expensive purchases.
  • Tax advantages: Many additional expenses (e.g. for medical treatments, therapies, or medication) can be claimed as “extraordinary burdens” in your tax adjustment.

Advisory centers and resources: Signposts in the jungle of bureaucracy

You do not have to find the way alone. There are experienced guides who help you understand applications and enforce your rights:

  • Social Ministry Service: The central contact point for the disability ID card and many forms of support.
  • Early intervention centers: Especially for little adventurers like Elias, organizations offer early intervention that comes directly to your home.
  • Parent networks: No one understands your worries as well as other parents in the same situation. Associations like “Balance” or local self-help groups offer valuable exchanges of experience.
  • PVA advice: The Pension Insurance Institution often offers consultation days to clarify questions about care allowance directly and in person.

Each of these resources is like an extra basket of provisions on your expedition. Do not hesitate to make use of them – these supports are there so that you can devote your energy fully to your child.

Support in the search for care

Mother and teenage daughter speaking with a therapist in a relaxed home environment

When the challenges of everyday life roll over you like high waves, noracares is the reliable lighthouse that shows you the way to the right support. We understand that care allowance only unfolds its full effect when it is invested in human closeness and real relief.

Finding the right companion

noracares is more than just a platform – it is the bridge to qualified caregivers who bring not only expertise, but also heart.

  • Tailored: Whether you are looking for support for a few hours a week so you can attend appointments, or you need long-term support for your child – you will find people who specialize exactly in your needs.
  • Security: Transparent profiles let you see qualifications and experience at a glance, so you know your child is in good hands.

Investing care allowance wisely

Care allowance gives you the financial freedom to “purchase” exactly the help that makes your everyday life easier.

  • Individual use: Use care allowance specifically for relief during peak times, support with special activities, or to promote your child’s mobility.
  • Transparency: You retain full control over how and for whom the funds are used.

Simple, direct, and stress-free

In an everyday life often shaped by bureaucracy, the search for help should not become an additional burden. Thanks to the digital solution from noracares, arranging support becomes easier than ever:

  1. Search: Browse profiles in your area with just a few clicks.
  2. Contact: Get in touch directly with potential caregivers – without lengthy detours through agencies.
  3. Save: Since noracares relies on direct placement, you save yourself high agency fees and stress, which you can instead invest in time with your child.

Your advantage: noracares becomes a valuable partner on your journey. We make sure that you find the best care for your child so that you can face the challenges of everyday life with confidence and renewed strength.

Rights and obligations : Keeping the anchorage secure

Care allowance is a great support, but it also comes with a certain responsibility. So that the financial assistance continues permanently and lawfully, there are clear ground rules. You can think of them like maintaining a ship: if you take care of it, the journey remains safe and stable.

Responsibilities: Ensuring care

As the recipient of the care allowance (or as your child’s legal representative), you are responsible for ensuring that the money truly benefits its intended purpose.

  • Ensuring care: The care allowance is intended to finance the necessary care and assistance. Whether you provide this care yourself, involve relatives, or seek professional help through platforms like noracares, is your decision. The only important thing is that care in the child’s best interest actually takes place.
  • Appropriate use: The money must be used for care-related expenses. This can include paying caregivers, but also additional expenses for aids or special needs arising from the disability.

Reporting obligations: Keeping the compass up to date

So that the insurance is always up to date, there is certain information that you must actively report. This prevents misunderstandings and protects against repayment claims.

  • Significant changes: If your child’s health condition changes fundamentally – whether it is a clear improvement or unfortunately also a deterioration – this must be reported to the insurance. In the event of deterioration, this can even be the key to a higher care level!
  • Stay in hospitals or rehab facilities: If your child is admitted for more than one month as an inpatient to a hospital or rehabilitation facility whose costs are covered by a social insurance provider, the care allowance is suspended from the second day. This is important to report in order to avoid overpayments.
  • Change of residence: Since care allowance is tied to residence in Austria (or certain EU regulations), a move – especially abroad – must be reported immediately.

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Good to know: Don’t worry about the bureaucracy! In most cases, a simple letter or an email to the Pension Insurance Institution (PVA) is enough to fulfill your reporting obligation. If you are unsure, a quick call to the PVA service line will help.

Current developments and legal changes

Care policy is constantly changing. The goal of the most recent reforms was to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for families and adapt financial security to rising costs.

Annual valorization (adjustment)

Since 2020, all care levels in Austria have been automatically valorized every year. This means that the amounts are adjusted each year on January 1 to the inflation rate.

  • Your security: You do not need to submit a new application to receive more money – the increase happens automatically. This ensures that the purchasing power of the care allowance is maintained in order to offset rising costs for care and therapies.

The family caregiver bonus

One of the most significant new developments in recent times is the relatives' bonus, which is available to relatives under certain conditions.

  • What is it? Family caregivers, who provide most of the care at home and therefore may not be able to work full-time, receive additional financial support under certain conditions.
  • Relevance for parents: If your child is at least care level 4 and you are primarily devoted to caregiving, you are entitled to this bonus (currently around 1,500 euros per year, often paid out in monthly installments).

Simplified assessment for children

In recent years, the guidelines for assessing children have been further clarified.

  • Specialist medical expertise: More attention is being paid to ensuring that experts involved in the assessment of children have pediatric training (pediatrics). This ensures that the developmental stages of children like Elias are assessed even more fairly.
  • Digital support: Submitting medical reports and communicating with the PVA is now almost entirely possible digitally, which significantly reduces the "paperwork battle" for families.

Expansion of mobile services and relief weeks

The law now increasingly provides that families can more easily access not only money, but also in-kind benefits. These include subsidized relief days on which professional caregivers take over support so that parents can take a break. Platforms like noracares ideally complement this government service by helping families quickly and unbureaucratically find private support.

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Graphic of Nurse Nora with a stethoscope around her neck and the text 'Nora's Conclusion' on a green banner. Closing remark or summary in the healthcare field.

The journey to supporting your child can be challenging, but also full of possibilities. The care allowance provides valuable help that enables you to find the best possible care for your little treasure and give them the freedom to flourish in their colorful world. With every level you reach and every step you take toward support, you create a solid foundation for a better future.

Sign up with noracares now and make sure your child receives the help they deserve! Together, we can make a positive difference in your lives.

*Planning note: The amounts mentioned in the article for 2026 are based on the current calculations for annual valorization. Since the care allowance is legally linked to the inflation rate, these values represent the expected financial support that will be available to you and your child.

A turquoise banner with white text reading 'Nora's Frequently Asked Questions'. On the right side is an illustrated avatar figure of a nurse with blonde hair, wearing a turquoise nurse's cap with a white cross, a white collar, and a stethoscope around her neck
Eligible are children with their habitual residence in Austria who, due to a physical, intellectual, or psychological disability, have a monthly care need of more than 65 hours for at least six months. The decisive factor is the additional effort compared with a healthy child of the same age. Eligibility is independent of income or assets.
You submit an application to the responsible insurance provider (usually the PVA). This can be done informally or by form (online/by post). Include current medical findings and therapy reports. The procedure officially starts on the submission date, from which the care allowance will also be paid retroactively if approved.
The amount is based on the additional time required per month. An assessor determines, using statutory time values (e.g. for personal hygiene, eating, dressing), how many hours of extra help your child needs. In Austria there are seven levels, ranging from about 206 euros (level 1) to 2,215 euros (level 7).
The hardship supplement is a time bonus for particularly intensive care (e.g. in cases of severe intellectual or psychological disability). For children under 7 years of age, 50 hours are added as a flat rate, and between 7 and 15 years of age, 75 hours per month are additionally counted. This often helps to reach a higher care level in order to take the psychological burden into account.
An expert (doctor or caregiver) visits you at home to assess the daily care routine. They speak with you and observe your child in their familiar environment. It is advisable to have a care diary and all medical records ready. A trusted person may be present at the appointment to support you.
Yes, in the event of a significant deterioration, you can submit an application for an increase at any time. The procedure is similar to a new application, including a renewed assessment of the care level. If the condition improves significantly, there is an obligation to notify the insurance provider. In addition, the care allowance is automatically adjusted to inflation every year (valorization), so no separate application is required for the annual increase.
Yes, from care level 4 onward, family caregivers can receive the relatives' bonus (approx. 134 euros per month). In addition, there is the increased family allowance for significant disabilities. Grants for aids, home adaptations, or support through mobile services can also be applied for from the Social Ministry Service or the provincial governments in order to offset the additional burden.
Care allowance is a monthly, tax-free financial support payment in Austria. Its purpose is to provide a flat-rate compensation for additional care-related expenses that arise when a child needs more help due to a disability than non-disabled children of the same age. It is not earmarked and enables parents to organize the care and support of their child individually and autonomously.
There is entitlement if a child requires constant care due to a physical, intellectual, or psychological impairment (for at least six months). The monthly care need must exceed 65 hours and go beyond the natural care effort of healthy children of the same age. In addition, the child must have their habitual residence in Austria.
The application is usually submitted to the Pension Insurance Institution (PVA) – either online via ID Austria, by post, or in person. Until the age of 18, the parents sign as legal representatives. Be sure to include all medical findings, therapy reports, or school reports. The care allowance is paid from the month of application (retroactively).
In Austria, there are seven care levels based on the monthly number of hours required. In 2026, the amounts range between 206.20 euros (level 1, >65 hrs.) and 2,214.80 euros (level 7, >180 hrs. with complete immobility). Levels 5 to 7 additionally require specific criteria such as constant standby availability or care that cannot be coordinated by time.
The determination is made through a medical assessment according to the Children's Classification Ordinance. Only the amount of time that goes beyond the age-appropriate norm is taken into account. For children under 15, there are also flat-rate hardship supplements (up to 7 years: 50 hrs.; up to 15 years: 75 hrs.) that increase the calculated care need in cases of severe multiple disabilities.

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  • Relatives' bonus – Additional financial support (approx. 134 euros/month) for family caregivers if the child is at least care level 4 and the caregiver is primarily devoted to caregiving.
  • Increased family allowance – A monthly supplement to the regular family allowance (2026: 189.20 euros/month) for children with a significant disability of at least 50 percent.
  • Hardship supplement – A flat-rate time bonus that is added to the calculated care need in cases of severe intellectual or psychological disability. For children under 7 years: 50 hours/month, between 7 and 15 years: 75 hours/month.
  • Children's Classification Ordinance (Kinder-EinstV) – The legal framework that determines how care needs for children and adolescents up to age 18 are calculated. It takes into account age-appropriate developmental stages and the additional effort compared with healthy peers.
  • Additional effort – The time required for care that goes beyond the age-appropriate level of a healthy child and serves as the basis for care allowance classification.
  • Pension Insurance Institution (PVA) – The central point of contact in Austria for applying for care allowance for children. The application can be submitted online, by post, or in person.
  • Care diary – A written record of the daily additional care effort, which serves as important evidence at the assessment appointment. It is recommended to keep one for at least two weeks before the home visit.
  • Expert – A doctor or qualified nursing professional who conducts a home visit on behalf of the PVA and officially assesses the child's care needs.
  • Social Ministry Service – An Austrian federal authority that supports people with disabilities and their families with applications, counseling, disability passes, and grants for aids or home adaptations.
  • Valorization – The annual automatic adjustment of care allowance amounts to the inflation rate, which takes effect each year on January 1. No separate application is required for this.
  • Activities of daily living – The legally defined catalog of everyday activities such as personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, meals, and mobility, on the basis of which care needs are calculated in hours.
  • Healthcare proxy – A legal document that allows parents or guardians to act on behalf of the child when dealing with authorities, submitting applications, and signing contracts.
  • ÖZIV (Austrian Civilian Disabled Persons Association) – An advocacy organization for people with disabilities in Austria that offers free counseling and legal support with care allowance applications and court proceedings.

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