Germany Pledges Record $1.08 Billion for Holocaust Survivor Home Care in 2026

Historic Commitment to Aging Survivors

The German government has announced a landmark pledge of over $1.08 billion for home care services for Holocaust survivors globally in 2026. This commitment represents the largest annual budget specifically allocated for Holocaust survivor home care in the history of German reparations, underscoring a continued dedication to those who endured the atrocities of the Nazi regime. The agreement was reached following extensive negotiations with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference).

The funding is designed to meet the complex and growing needs of an increasingly elderly survivor population. According to the Claims Conference, the average age of survivors receiving home care support has risen from 86 in 2018 to 88.5 in 2024. Approximately 200,000 Holocaust survivors are still alive worldwide, with the majority residing in Israel, the United States, and Europe. This record allocation aims to ensure that all survivors currently on waitlists for home care will receive the necessary support, allowing them to age with dignity in their own homes.

Addressing Evolving Needs and Expanding Support

The substantial increase in home care funding reflects the changing demographics and health challenges faced by survivors. Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference, stated that 'While we are losing survivors at a rapid pace each year, those who remain are older, frailer and in greater need than ever before. This budget is critical in providing each of them the opportunity to age in place, a dignity that was stolen from them in their youth.' The number of survivors requiring full-time assistance due to severe disabilities, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and dementia, has nearly doubled in recent years.

Beyond home care, the German government has also extended other vital support programs. The Hardship Fund Supplemental Payments, which provide annual stipends of approximately €1,450 (about $1,550) per survivor, have been extended through 2028, benefiting more than 127,000 individuals globally. Additionally, eligibility for home care assistance has been expanded to include 'Righteous Rescuers'—non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Commitment to Education and Historical Context

In a further demonstration of its enduring commitment, Germany has extended its support for Holocaust education programs through 2029, with a total commitment of $205 million over the next four years. Stuart E. Eizenstat, who leads negotiations for the Claims Conference, emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, 'The survivors, the eyewitnesses, won't be here, and we need Holocaust education desperately at a time of rising antisemitism, Holocaust distortion, denial and sheer ignorance.'

The negotiations for Holocaust reparations between the Claims Conference and the German government date back to 1952. Since then, Germany has paid more than $95 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from Nazi persecution. This latest record pledge for home care, announced on October 29, 2025, builds upon a long history of efforts to provide a measure of justice and support to those whose lives were irrevocably altered by the Holocaust.