Care support allowance is an **income replacement benefit provided by long-term care insurance in the event of an acute care situation**. Employees can take up to 10 working days off work per calendar year and per person in need of care to organize care for a close relative or ensure that their care needs are met.
Please note: We cannot process any orders or send invoices during a period in which you receive or have received an income replacement benefit.
##### Requirements To receive care support allowance, you must apply to the long-term care insurance fund or private long-term care insurance provider of the person in need of care. The following requirements must be met: - The care situation has arisen suddenly and unexpectedly and requires immediate support. - You are a close relative of the person in need of care. - Your relative has already been officially recognized as being in need of care, or it is expected that they will become in need of care in the near future. - You are employed and require a short-term leave of absence from work. - The relative in need of care is insured with a German health insurance provider but may also live outside Germany. ##### Applying for care support allowance 1. Obtain a **medical certificate** confirming the existing or expected need for care and the required support. 2. Apply for **care support allowance** without delay to the long-term care insurance fund or private long-term care insurance provider of the person in need of care. 3. Inform Smart, as your **employer**, without delay about your absence from work and its expected duration. A certificate confirming your loss of earnings may also be required when applying for care support allowance. ##### Amount Care support allowance generally amounts to **90% of the net employment income lost**. If you received one-off payments subject to social security contributions during the 12 months preceding your leave, the allowance amounts to **100% of the net employment income lost**. A statutory maximum limit also applies.During the short-term leave of absence, your insurance coverage under the statutory health, long-term care, pension, and unemployment insurance schemes generally remains in place.