2024 Care Bonus for Healthcare Workers – Amount and Payment Dates

Pflegebonus 2024: Moral and financial recognition for healthcare and care workers

1. What is the Pflegebonus?

The Pflegebonus is a special one-off bonus payment introduced by the federal and state governments in Germany to honour the efforts of medical and nursing staff, particularly in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic or strong inflation.

It is paid on top of regular wages and is often exempt from income tax and social security contributions (givve.com).

2. How much is the bonus in 2024?

The amount of the bonus varies from one federal state to another:

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Berlin and Rhineland-Palatinate: up to 1,500 €
Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein: around 1,000 €

For special funding programmes, for example targeted support for hospitals or particular care facilities, the total bonus can reach up to 3,000 €, often paid out in monthly instalments between July 2023 and early 2024.

3. Who is entitled to receive it?

In principle, the following groups are covered, without fundamental distinction:

Full-time and part-time staff working in:
- nursing and residential care homes,
- hospital wards and clinical nursing departments,
- day-care units, outpatient or community-based care services.

Depending on state-level regulations and specific funding schemes, additional groups may also be included, for example:

staff receiving special allowances for care and support,
parent supporters or coordinators involved in organising or using day-care and short-term care offers.

The exact rules and definitions are set out in the relevant regulations of each federal state and employer.

4. When is the bonus paid? (2024 schedule)

In practice, the Pflegebonus is often paid in two instalments:

First instalment:
- as soon as funds have been approved and transferred by the state or via the Pflegekassen through the Federal Office for Social Security (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung – BAS),
- usually in the first month after approval.
Second instalment:
- after the end of the first payment month,
- typically in the following month.

According to BAS schedules for 2024, payments to institutions are processed on fixed dates around the 11th and 22nd of each month (e.g. 11 and 23 January 2024, 14 and 27 May 2024) (bundesamtsozialesicherung.de).

5. How does the process work in practice?

Assessment by the employer
- The care facility or hospital identifies all employees who meet the eligibility criteria,
- prepares detailed lists and payroll data, and forwards them to the competent financial or funding authority.
Reimbursement via care funds and BAS
- The Pflegekassen (long-term care funds) calculate the total amount needed for each institution,
- request reimbursement from the BAS in line with the official payment schedule,
- receive the funds on the agreed BAS dates.
Payment to employees
- The money is transferred to the employer (hospital, care facility) on the relevant BAS dates (for example, the 11th and 23rd of each month),
- the employer then passes the bonus on to the employees via the regular payroll,
- applying tax treatment where necessary, if the bonus is not fully exempt.

6. Key points to note

The Pflegebonus is not part of the basic salary and, as a rule, does not count towards regular social security contributions, as it is treated as a special one-off payment.
The bonus cannot be offset or deducted by employers against other wage components and is legally protected in the framework of relevant relief and one-off payment regulations (EEZG).
The concrete design of the bonus (exact amount, reference dates, eligible groups) may differ considerably depending on the applicable collective bargaining agreements (Tarifverträge) and the federal state.

Quick overview

Amount:
- Typically 1,000–1,500 €, depending on the federal state; up to 3,000 € in specific programmes.
Eligible groups:
- Nurses, nursing assistants, care aides, staff in nursing homes, hospitals, day-care and similar facilities.
Payment dates:
- Based on BAS schedules, usually around the 11th and 22nd of each month.
Payment channel:
- Through the employer, as part of the regular payroll cycle.
Tax treatment:
- Often exempt from income tax and social security contributions, within the applicable legal limits.

The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on extensive research and multiple sources. Nonetheless, errors may occur or certain details may be incomplete or not yet definitively confirmed. Please therefore treat the information in this article as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities for binding and up-to-date information.