Cost of nursing and care homes
Advice
Access to the assets of
- persons admitted to inpatient care facilities,
- their relatives,
- their heirs and
- gift recipients
within the framework of social assistance to cover care costs has been inadmissible since 1 January 2018. The provisions prohibiting the recourse to care [Pflegeregress] in the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz apply to the whole of Austria.
As of 1 January 2018, it has been prohibited to claim compensation against the assets of a person in residential care or their relatives, heirs or gift donees in order to cover care costs. As of that date, compensation claims may no longer be enforced and any ongoing proceedings must be discontinued. Any provisions of provincial laws to the contrary were repealed as of that date.
Residential home costs vary considerably and depend on several factors, such as the province in which the home is located and whether it is a state-run or privately-run facility.
In many residential homes, the fees comprise a standard fee and a supplement depending on care requirements, generally based on the level of the care allowance.
In addition to the care allowance, and pension or annuity, the income of the person in need of care is also allocated to cover the costs of the home. If the income does not cover all the costs of the home, the balance is usually covered from social assistance/minimum benefits.
In that case, the resident retains 20 percent of his or her pension and special payments, as well as 10 percent of the level 3 care allowance for monthly pocket money.
Further links
Nursing and care homes – Compensation for care costs abolished (→ BMSGPK)German text
Legal basis
section 13 of the Bundespflegegeldgesetz (BPGG)
Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection