• § 2 Pflegezeitgesetz (PflegeZG) – Kurzzeitige Arbeitsverhinderung
• § 44a Sozialgesetzbuch, Elftes Buch (SGB XI)

Notification of short-term absence from work in accordance with the Caregiver Leave Act (PflegeZG)

If a close relative* unexpectedly becomes a carer, this is often a difficult situation for relatives. A lot has to be organised quickly - an almost impossible task for working people.

In addition to the entitlement to carers' leave, employees and employees in vocational training are also entitled to short-term leave of absence for up to ten working days per calendar year as so-called "short-term absence from work". You are also covered by social insurance as an employee during this time.

You can be absent from work for up to ten working days as part of a short-term absence.

Note: Your employer is only obliged to continue to pay your salary if this is based on another statutory provision or if this has been contractually agreed.

If you are not entitled to continued payment of your salary by your employer and you do not receive sickness or injury benefit due to a child's illness or accident, you are entitled to compensation for lost earnings. This so-called care support allowance was introduced with the law to improve the compatibility of family, care and work. This compensation is paid by your relative's care insurance fund. The amount of the care support allowance corresponds to the benefits paid as part of the so-called child sickness benefit. People in marginal employment were not excluded from the wage replacement benefit. The number of employees of your employer is irrelevant.

You must agree the leave of absence from work with your employer as early as possible. If your employer is not obliged to continue paying your wages, you can apply for the care support allowance from the care insurance fund of the family member who needs care.

*) In order to remain comprehensible, we limit ourselves to the generalised personal designations, they always refer to each gender - the editors

Your employer can request a medical certificate confirming that your close relative is in need of care and that you need time off work.

You are

• An employee,
• in a company vocational training programme or
• are to be regarded as an employee-like person due to your economic independence
  (you also belong to this category, for example, if you work from home).

A close relative unexpectedly becomes a care case or the care situation of a close relative already in need of care deteriorates so acutely that you have to organise needs-based care or ensure that care is provided.

The following are considered close relatives:

• Grandparents, parents, parents-in-law, step-parents
• Spouses, life partners, partners in a marriage-like or life partnership-like relationship, siblings, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law
• Children, adopted and foster children
• the children, adopted or foster children of the spouse or partner
• Children-in-law
• Grandchildren

none

Inform your employer immediately that you need to take a short leave of absence from work and for how long.

The application for care support allowance must be submitted immediately to your close relative's care insurance fund. You must submit a medical certificate confirming that your relative is in need of care and that you need to take time off work to organise or provide care.

none

As a result of the Care Support and Relief Act (PUEG), care support allowance can be claimed for up to ten working days per person in need of care per calendar year since 1 January 2024 and is therefore no longer limited to a total of ten working days per person in need of care.

not applicable