Household Assistance

To meet the demand for domestic services, there are various options available:

Domestic assistance through outpatient care services

Outpatient care services usually offer domestic support for those in need of care in addition to providing nursing care. Furthermore, some care services offer domestic support independently of nursing services.

An overview of outpatient care services operating in the Oberbergischer Kreis can be found here.

Domestic assistance through mini-job workers

Domestic assistance can also be provided by employing a household helper within the framework of a mini-job. The household helper must be registered by the person in need of assistance with the Mini-Job Center. Further information on the requirements and registration of a mini-job worker can be found on the website of the Mini-Job Center.

Domestic assistance through commercial providers

Domestic support can also be ensured by engaging a commercial provider of domestic services. Some commercial providers, in coordination with the Office for Social Affairs, can bill their services within the framework of social assistance. A list of providers that meet these criteria can be found at the following link: commercial providers of domestic services.

If you operate as a commercial provider of domestic services and wish to bill your services within the framework of social assistance with the Oberbergischer Kreis as the responsible social assistance provider, you must enter into an agreement with the Oberbergischer Kreis. You agree to charge your services at a current hourly rate of €35.00, including travel costs, and to adhere to minimum quality standards for domestic services provided to older adults in NRW. Details of the minimum requirements can be found here: Minimum requirements for domestic services.

Information about your commercial domestic service offerings will be published on the Oberbergischer Kreis website and shared with local senior and care advisory offices.

Depending on the method chosen to access domestic services, costs can be covered either through self-payment, benefits from long-term care insurance (SGB XI), or through social assistance (SGB XII).

Domestic assistance under long-term care insurance benefits

Those in need of care within the meaning of SGB XI, who have been assigned a care level and are being cared for in their own homes, are entitled to a relief amount of up to €131.00 per month. This can be used for support services in daily life, including domestic assistance.

Relevant offers from recognized providers in your area can be found here: Offer Finder NRW

Additionally, individuals with care level 2 or higher are entitled to nursing care benefits in kind and generally have the option to bill domestic services through an outpatient care service.

Domestic assistance under social assistance

Individuals who require domestic support in their home environment and cannot cover the costs through their own means or care insurance benefits are entitled to have the costs of necessary domestic support covered under the assistance for care or continuation of household management by the Oberbergischer Kreis as the responsible social assistance provider. The granting of these benefits is not dependent on receiving a care level and is determined on an hourly basis by the social assistance provider. If entitlement to domestic assistance benefits is established, it can be provided either through a mini-job worker or a commercial provider. For a mini-job worker, an hourly rate of €16.00 plus social insurance contributions is recognized and covered.

Further information on the various types of benefits, requirements, and application procedures can be found on our website.