German Health Minister Proposes Forcing Children to Cover Parents’ Care Costs-Even Below €100K

German Health Minister Nina Warken is proposing a policy change to require children to contribute more to their parents’ long-term care costs, according to a June 18, 2026, report by DIE ZEIT. The proposal seeks to lower or remove the current 100,000-euro annual income threshold that exempts many adult children from paying for parental nursing care.

Under existing laws, adult children in Germany are generally not required to pay for their parents’ care if their gross annual income remains below 100,000 euros. Minister Warken’s plan would force children with lower earnings to share the financial burden of nursing homes and professional care services.

Why is the 100,000-euro threshold changing?

The proposal aims to shift a larger portion of care costs from the state and long-term care insurance to the families of the patients. According to DIE ZEIT, Warken believes that children should bear more responsibility for their parents’ maintenance regardless of the high income ceiling established in previous years.

The current system relies on the Relative Relief Act, which was designed to prevent the “impoverishment” of the middle class by shielding those earning under the six-figure mark. Warken’s suggested shift would reverse this protection, potentially impacting millions of households whose income falls between the poverty line and the current 100,000-euro limit.

How does the current parental maintenance law work?

Since the implementation of the Relative Relief Act in 2020, the German government has limited the ability of social welfare offices to claim “Elternunterhalt” (parental maintenance) from children. The law established that children are only liable for costs if their annual income exceeds 100,000 euros.

If a parent’s pension and long-term care insurance do not cover the full cost of a nursing home, the state typically pays the difference. Under the 2020 rules, the state cannot recoup these funds from children earning less than the specified threshold. Warken’s proposal would allow the state to reclaim these costs from a broader range of income brackets.

What are the potential financial consequences?

The impact of this change would be felt most by middle-income earners. While the very wealthy already pay, those earning 50,000 to 90,000 euros per year would suddenly face monthly payments to cover their parents’ care deficits.

The specific new income limit has not been finalized, but DIE ZEIT reports that Warken’s objective is to ensure children contribute “more” to the costs. This suggests either a significant lowering of the 100,000-euro cap or a sliding scale based on income.

Critics of the move argue that this would reduce the disposable income of the working generation, potentially hindering their ability to save for their own retirement or support their own children.

How does this compare to previous care policies?

The proposed shift represents a move away from the social protections introduced in 2020. The 2020 law was a response to widespread public outcry over children being forced to sell homes or deplete savings to pay for nursing homes, even when they had modest salaries.

By contrasting the 2020 protectionist approach with Warken’s 2026 proposal, the government is signaling a priority shift toward the sustainability of the public care insurance fund over individual family protections.

The proposal enters a political environment where the cost of elderly care is rising due to an aging population and increased labor costs for nursing staff. Warken’s plan seeks to address this funding gap by expanding the pool of contributors.