Krankengeld und Freistellung bei Krankheit des Kindes

If you are unable to work due to your child's illness, you can receive children's sick pay from your statutory health insurance fund. Under certain conditions, you can transfer the children's sick pay days to your partner.

You will receive children's sick pay to replace lost wages if you are

• have statutory health insurance,
• are entitled to sick pay,
• your child has statutory health insurance, is ill and is under 12 years of age,
• have no other person in the household who can care for the child,
• have to supervise, care for or nurse your child and therefore cannot work,
• are released from work by your employer and do not receive continued pay (no paid time off).

For parents of children with disabilities who are dependent on assistance, the age limit of 12 years does not apply.

You apply for children's sickness benefit from your statutory health insurance fund. To do this, you must submit the so-called child sickness certificate (sample 21).

Children's sick pay is generally 90 percent of your lost net pay. If you have received one-time payments from your employer in the year before the child's illness (e.g. Christmas bonus), the children's sick pay is 100 percent of the lost net pay. For full-time self-employed persons, children's sickness benefit is paid in the amount of the sickness benefit in case of own incapacity for work. Due to the statutory income threshold, the maximum amount of children's sick pay is capped.

Children's sick pay is subject to social insurance contributions. This means that your health insurance fund automatically deducts nursing care, pension and unemployment insurance contributions. Health insurance contributions are not due.

You can receive

• Receive 10 working days of children's sick pay per child per year.
• If you are a single parent, your entitlement increases to 20 working days.
• If you have 3 or more children, you can receive child sickness benefit for up to 25 working days per year; single parents for up to 50 working days.

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the number of working days you can get child sickness benefit has been increased and is 2021:

• 1 child: maximum 30 working days, single parents maximum 60 working days;
• 2 children: maximum 60 working days, single parents maximum 120 working days;
• 3 or more children: maximum 65 working days, single parents 130 working days.

Due to the Corona pandemic, in 2021 you can also apply for child sickness benefits if you have to care for your child at home due to:

• A pandemic-related official school or daycare closure,
• officially mandated or extended company or school vacations,
• cancellation of compulsory attendance at school,
• Other pandemic-related restriction of care for your child,
• quarantine of your child (no-entry order), or
• An official recommendation that your child not attend daycare or school.

You must prove one of the reasons to your health insurance company. For this purpose, your health insurance fund may ask for a certificate from the daycare center or school.

If your employer gives you paid time off from work, this time will count towards your entitlement to children's sick pay. This means that your entitlement to children's sick pay is suspended as long as your employer gives you paid time off. For example, if your employer has continued to pay you your net pay for 5 days, you will still be entitled to children's sick pay for 5 days out of your maximum entitlement to children's sick pay of up to 10 working days per year (1 child).

If you have already used up your maximum number of sick child days, it may be possible for your partner to transfer the sick child days to you. You must apply to your health insurance fund for this as well. Your employer must also be willing to give you another unpaid leave of absence.

If your child is seriously ill and under 12 years of age or disabled and dependent on assistance, you will receive children's sickness benefit for an unlimited period of time. You must still meet the following requirements:

• You and your child have statutory health insurance,
• You are entitled to sickness benefits,
• your child must be supervised, cared for or nursed by you due to a fatal illness, which is why you cannot work,
• your child's illness must have reached a very advanced stage, require palliative medical treatment or you, your partner wish to receive such treatment, and the illness must result in a limited life expectancy of weeks or a few months,
• You are on leave of absence from your employer and do not receive continuation of pay (no paid time off).

You must submit a certificate to your health insurance company stating that your child has a serious, fatal illness.

• Medical certificate about the illness and the care needs of your child ("Kindkrankschreibung", sample 21).
• In addition, if necessary, for seriously ill children:
• Medical certificate stating that your child is suffering from a serious, fatal illness.
• For children with disabilities, additionally, if applicable:
• Medical certificate or, if applicable, proof that your child has a disability and is dependent on your assistance
• For quarantined or closed care facilities due to the Corona pandemic, if applicable:
• Proof that a care facility has been closed, that the facility or school vacations have been ordered or extended, that school attendance requirements have been lifted, that care services have been restricted, that a quarantine (no-entry) order has been issued, or that an official recommendation has been made not to attend the care facility.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine if proof is required.

• Your child is under 12 years old or has a disability and is dependent on assistance.
• Your child has been diagnosed with a medical condition and, as a result, has a need for care or supervision.
• No other person in your household can care for the child.
• You and your child have statutory health insurance.
• You are employed and are entitled to sick pay.
• You are granted unpaid leave by your employer.
• Even if you are self-employed and insured by law, you can get children's sick pay from the 1st day of your child's illness. The prerequisite for this is that you yourself are entitled to sick pay,

In the case of seriously ill children:

• Your child is terminally ill and has a life expectancy of a few weeks or months.
• Your child's illness is already far advanced and must require palliative medical treatment, or you or your partner want this treatment.
• Your child is under 12 years old or disabled and dependent on assistance.
• You and your child have statutory health insurance.
• You are employed and are entitled to sick pay.
• You are given unpaid leave by your employer.
• Even if you are self-employed and insured by law, you can get children's sick pay from the 1st day of your child's illness. The prerequisite for this is that you yourself are entitled to sick pay, for example, via a so-called optional tariff with your health insurance company.

For the transfer of children's sick pay days:

• Both you and your partner have statutory health insurance.
• Both you and your partner are entitled to sick pay.
• Your employer has agreed to the transfer of the children's sick pay days. This means that your employer has agreed to release you for additional days.
  

You do not have to pay anything for the application.

You can submit the application for children's sick pay and the application for transfer of children's sick days by mail as well as - for many statutory health insurance funds - in person at the office or online.
Normally, the procedure is as follows:

• You receive a doctor's prescription for children's sick days (sample 21).
• Fill out the application form of your statutory health insurance. This can be found on the reverse side of sample 21. If necessary, your health insurance fund will request further information in a separate application.
• Submit the child sickness certificate (sample 21) to your health insurance fund together with any other documents that may be required.
• Inform your employer about the child sickness registration.
• The health insurance fund will check your application and transfer your child sickness benefit to you. For employees: Your health insurance fund will pay your child sickness benefit only after your employer has provided the health insurance fund with the required information on your lost net pay.
• Special provision for child care due to the Corona pandemic:
• Complete the application provided by your public health insurance carrier.
• Attach proof from the school or daycare center.
• Submit the application to your health insurance company along with the verification and any other required documents.
• The health insurance fund will review your application and transfer your children's sick pay to you. For employees: Your health insurance fund will pay your children's sick pay only after your employer has provided the health insurance fund with the required information on your lost net pay.
  

Processing usually takes about 4 to 9 working days.

For rapid processing and decision-making, your health insurance fund must be provided with the necessary information as well as any required documents in a complete and meaningful manner.
The health insurance company decides on applications promptly, whereby the statutory processing period is adhered to in order to protect patients' rights.
Please note that the processing time indicated is an average value for all health insurance funds. It may vary in individual cases.
The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and may be longer accordingly. The same applies if documents or records are sent to you or your health insurer by mail.

You should go to the doctor with your child as soon as possible-preferably on the 1st day of illness-to obtain the Child Sickness Record (Sample 21) and inform your employer of your absence.

If you yourself have private insurance and the other parent has statutory insurance, it depends on where the child is insured: If the child has statutory insurance, the parent with statutory insurance can apply for child sickness benefit.
If your child has an accident at school or daycare, you will receive child injury benefit from the accident insurance. This is usually calculated and paid by your health insurance fund on behalf of the relevant accident insurance institution.
If you are unemployed, the Employment Agency will continue to pay unemployment benefits for a limited period if you are unable to continue your job search due to the illness and the resulting need to care for your child.

• Objection
• Action before the social court
  

• Sick pay in case of illness of the child
• Application for children's sickness benefit for mothers or fathers with statutory health insurance.
• Prerequisite:
  • Parent is insured with entitlement to sick pay
  • Sick child is covered by statutory health insurance, under 12 years of age or disabled with need for assistance
  • Medical certificate about the child's illness and the need for supervision, care or nursing of the child ("child sickness certificate", so-called sample 21)
  • The parent is employed and cannot perform his or her job because of the need to care for the sick child.
  • No other person living in the household can take care of the child
  • Employee is not entitled to paid time off from employer
  • Corona special regulation 2021: Entitlement also exists if child must be cared for due to
    • pandemic-related official closure of the daycare center (Kita) or school,
    • a quarantine of the child (ban on entering),
    • officially ordered or extended school or company vacations,
    • suspension of compulsory attendance at a school or restriction of access to childcare services, or
    • Official recommendation not to attend the facility.
    • Health insurance fund may require proof of daycare or school attendance
• Amount:
  • In principle, 90 percent of the lost net remuneration.
  • In the case of annual one-off payments by the employer (e.g. Christmas bonus): 100 percent of the lost net pay
  • Mainly self-employed: children's sick pay in the amount of the sick pay in case of own incapacity for work
  • Health insurance company deducts social security contributions
  • Maximum amounts per day apply based on the statutory income threshold for contributions
  • Children's sick pay for seriously ill children: in the amount of sick pay for own incapacity for work
• Maximum period of entitlement per calendar year:
  • For each parent: 10 working days per child, maximum 25 working days.
  • Single parent: 20 working days per child, maximum 50 working days
  • Corona Special Scheme 2021:
  • 1 child: maximum 30 working days, single parent maximum 60 working days;
  • 2 children: maximum 60 working days, single parents maximum 120 working days;
  • 3 or more children: maximum 65 working days, single parents 130 working days.
  • Children's sickness benefit for seriously ill children: unlimited entitlement
• Transfer of children's sick pay days to other parent possible (clarify with employer and health insurance fund)
  • Prerequisite: both parents must have statutory health insurance
  • Employer releases parent from work without pay
• Application to statutory health insurance fund
• Information provided by: statutory health insurance funds
• responsible: statutory health insurance funds
  

- Forms: yes

- Online procedure possible: Many statutory health insurers offer an online procedure.

- Written form required: no

- Personal appearance required: no