This department informs people in need of care about the personal and financial eligibility requirements for care assistance as a needs-based social benefit if the necessary care costs at home or in a care facility cannot be covered by their own resources. Corresponding benefit applications are accepted and processed here. In addition, this department is the point of contact for applications for state care allowances. Severely disabled persons receive care allowance under the State Care Allowance Act to compensate for the additional expenses incurred as a result of their disability. The state care allowance is a benefit provided by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and is granted as a lump sum.