Sick child? What now? Child sickness allowance in Germany
When the flu viruses are around, parents sometimes tear their hair out. Because what are you supposed to do when a child is sick and you can’t go to work because of it? Employees in Germany are entitled to additional days off if they have to care for a sick child. This also applies to Dutch people who are employed in Germany. If a child is sick, you as an employee can be released from work. In addition, compulsorily or voluntarily insured persons are entitled to so-called “Child sickness allowance” for a certain period of time.
Conditions
Compulsorily or voluntarily insured persons are entitled to child sickness benefit during the time that their child is sick if:
- a doctor writes a certificate stating that the insured person needs to stay at home to care for their sick child and cannot work
- there is not another person in the same household who can provide this care
- the child is under 12 years old or disabled and in need of help.
Limited duration
Each parent who fulfils the above conditions is entitled to child sickness allowance for a maximum of 15 days per calendar year for each child. In the case of a single parent, the maximum is 30 days. If there are several children, the number is increased proportionately. In total, each parent is entitled to a maximum of 35 working days of child sickness allowance per year. For single persons, the maximum is 70 working days. Days on which employers give their employees paid time off are offset against this. No “children sickness allowance” is paid for these days.
Amount of children’s sickness allowance
As a rule, the health insurance company reimburses 90 per cent of the net salary not received. In months in which the employee receives one-off payments from the employer, such as holiday pay and Christmas bonus, even 100 per cent is reimbursed. The maximum amount is € 120,75 per day (2024).