Sickness benefit when a child is ill

Children’s sickness benefit is paid up to the day before the 12th birthday at the latest. There is no entitlement for children over 12.

In the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the requirement was gradually extended. The following applies for the years 2024 and 2025:

• The entitlement period is 15 working days per year per parent per child (instead of 10)
• Single parents receive 30 working days per child per year (instead of 20)

• The total number of annual entitlement days per parent increases to 35 working days (instead of 25), for single parents to a total of 70 working days per year (instead of 50)

Insured persons generally receive 90 percent of their lost net pay. The maximum limit is 120.75 euros (2024) per day.

To ensure that insured persons do not suffer any disadvantages in pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance, contributions must also be paid from the child sickness benefit. These are therefore deducted from the amount paid.

From 2024, parents will be entitled to child sickness benefit if they have to be admitted to hospital for medical reasons with a sick child under the age of 12 (or with a disability).

In this case, you are entitled to child sickness benefit for as long as the admission lasts, there is no maximum entitlement period and these days are not counted towards the actual child sickness benefit days.

The clinic must then certify to the parent that the co-admission is for medical reasons and how long it will last. If a child is no more than 8 years old, it is always assumed that the co-admission is medically necessary. In this case, only the duration must be certified.

If several entitlements to child sickness benefit arise at the same time as a result of the new regulation, for example in the case of an inpatient admission parallel to the care of a seriously ill child or for the inpatient care of children with disabilities, only one entitlement can be realized, whereby parents can choose which one.

An application for child sickness benefit must be submitted to the health insurance fund of the parent making the application (not to the child’s health insurance fund). However, the child must be covered by statutory health insurance.

You can send us an application for child sickness benefit by e-mail, via our OGS or by post.

• You are employed and receive no pay for the time you are caring for your child.
• Your child is covered by statutory insurance.
• There is no one in your household who could care for your child in your place.
• You yourself are insured with us and are entitled to sickness benefit.
• Your child is under the age of 12. If he or she is disabled and dependent on help, there is no age limit.
• You have not yet reached the maximum entitlement period.
• The need for care must be proven with the document “Medical certificate for the receipt of sickness benefit in the event of illness of a child” issued by the doctor’s practice.