Children's sick pay
Time for supervision, care or nursing
Insured persons are entitled to child sickness benefit for the years 2024 and 2025 if, according to a medical certificate, it is necessary for them to be absent from work to supervise, look after or care for their sick and insured child. A further condition is that another person living in your household cannot supervise, look after or care for the child and the child has not yet reached the age of twelve. An exception beyond the age of 12 is made if the child has a disability and is permanently dependent on help.
Regulation on child sickness benefit / care at home
You receive child sickness benefit for each child for up to 15 working days and, if you have several children, for a maximum of 35 working days per year. If you are a single parent, you will receive 30 days for each child and a maximum of 70 working days per calendar year if you have several children. You will receive a certificate from your child's doctor stating that you are in receipt of child sickness benefit. On this certificate you will also find the application form for child sickness benefit. Please fill it out completely and send us the signed application, also via our online office or by email.
Amount of the child sickness benefit
The amount of children's sickness benefit is generally 90% of the lost net pay, but not more than 70% of the gross pay. Children's sickness benefit is limited to a maximum of 70% of the daily income threshold for health insurance contributions.
Admission as an accompanying person during a (partial) inpatient stay, e.g. in hospital or in a rehabilitation clinic
If admission is necessary for medical reasons, we will reimburse you for the loss of earnings in the amount of the children's sickness benefit; medically justified admission is accepted up to the age of 9. If your child is 9 years or older, we require a certificate of medical necessity from the institution.
The entitlement exists for the entire duration of the medically necessary inpatient admission. This period during (partial) inpatient treatment is not counted towards the days of entitlement to child sickness benefit for care at home.
To apply for children's sickness benefit if you are admitted to an inpatient facility, you need a certificate from the facility confirming that you are admitted as an inpatient. The certificate will state which parent has been admitted as an accompanying person for which child. If your child is 9 years or older, the facility must also confirm that the co-admission was medically necessary.
More information
For more information, see the questions and answers on children's sick days and children's sick pay. The Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for this regulation.
Published on: 17.03.2022 - Last modified on: 03.01.2024
