Mini-Job in Care: Rights and Obligations
What Is a Mini-Job in Care?
A mini-job (Minijob) is a marginal employment arrangement in Germany with monthly earnings of up to 603 euros (as of 2026). In home care, the mini-job is one of the most popular forms of employment, offering numerous benefits for both families and caregivers. As an employer, you can deploy a care helper flexibly without having to deal with complex payroll accounting.
The mini-job is particularly well-suited for hourly care of family members in need. The caregiver can come to the home regularly to assist with basic care, housekeeping, or supervision.
Rights of Caregivers in Mini-Jobs
Even as mini-job workers, caregivers have extensive rights that are often not well known:
- Minimum wage: The statutory minimum wage applies without restriction to mini-jobs. Currently, it is 12.82 euros per hour.
- Paid leave: Mini-job workers are entitled to at least 24 working days of leave per year (based on a 6-day week), calculated proportionally.
- Sick pay: From the first day of illness, there is an entitlement to continued payment for up to 6 weeks.
- Dismissal protection: The regular notice periods under German civil law also apply to mini-jobs.
- Holiday pay: On public holidays when work would normally be performed, wages must continue to be paid.
Obligations as an Employer
As an employer of a care helper in a mini-job, you have the following obligations:
- Registration: The caregiver must be registered with the Minijob-Zentrale — most easily through the Haushaltsscheck.
- Contributions: You pay flat-rate contributions of approximately 14.94% of gross wages for health, pension, and accident insurance.
- Documentation: Working hours must be documented to prove compliance with minimum wage requirements.
- Employment contract: No later than one month after starting work, the essential contract terms must be recorded in writing.
Tax Advantages
Employing a care helper as a mini-job in a private household offers significant tax advantages. You can deduct 20% of expenditures, up to a maximum of 510 euros per year, directly from your tax liability. Additionally, care costs can be claimed as extraordinary expenses if a care level has been assigned.
If you receive care allowance (Pflegegeld), you can use it directly to finance the mini-job. With care level 3, for example, you have 573 euros per month available — more than enough to finance a mini-job.
Find the Right Caregiver with Pflege Orga
Through Pflege Orga, you can find experienced caregivers in your area who want to work on a mini-job basis. Our platform makes it easy to find care providers who match your needs. Register for free and start your search today.