78 weeks of sick-pay safety net — what Krankengeld really covers
If you are too sick to work, your employer pays 100% for 6 weeks, then GKV pays 70% of gross (max 90% of net) for up to 78 weeks in a 3-year window. This is the Krankengeld safety net explained for 2026.
78 weeks of sick-pay, from day one
If illness keeps you off work, your employer pays 100% for the first 6 weeks. Then GKV takes over for up to 78 weeks per condition within a 3-year window. Your job is legally protected the whole time.
Krankengeld maximum per condition
78 weeks
Six weeks at 100% of your salary from the employer (Entgeltfortzahlung), then 70% of gross (capped at 90% of net) from GKV for up to 78 weeks total. That is 18 months of income protection for a single illness — and a new unrelated condition resets the clock.
The two phases of paid sick leave
Weeks 1–6
Employer pays 100%
Entgeltfortzahlung §3 EFZG
Weeks 7–78
GKV pays Krankengeld
70% gross / 90% net cap
€135.63/day
BBG cap in 2026
Max ~€4,069/month gross
Phase 1 — Entgeltfortzahlung (weeks 1–6)
| Provider | Rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
Eligibility Best | 4+ weeks in the job | Applies to every employee, full and part-time |
Amount | 100% of normal gross salary | Including shift bonuses, commissions |
Duration | 6 weeks per separate illness | Resets if you return and a NEW illness starts |
Same illness returning within 6 months | Counts as continuation | No fresh 6-week window |
Notification | Sick note by day 4 at latest | Employer contract may require day 1 |
- Rule
- 4+ weeks in the job
- Detail
- Applies to every employee, full and part-time
- Rule
- 100% of normal gross salary
- Detail
- Including shift bonuses, commissions
- Rule
- 6 weeks per separate illness
- Detail
- Resets if you return and a NEW illness starts
- Rule
- Counts as continuation
- Detail
- No fresh 6-week window
- Rule
- Sick note by day 4 at latest
- Detail
- Employer contract may require day 1
Phase 2 — Krankengeld from GKV (weeks 7–78)
70%
of last gross salary
Starting point
90% cap
of last net salary
Whichever is LOWER applies
€135.63/day
absolute cap 2026
At BBG €5,812.50/mo
Your Krankengeld is still subject to pension, unemployment, and long-term care contributions — around 12.35% is deducted. Income tax is NOT withheld, but Krankengeld is counted under Progressionsvorbehalt, meaning it lifts the tax bracket for the rest of your year's income. File a tax return to settle.
The 78-week rule, exactly
Per-condition 3-year window. You receive up to 78 weeks of Krankengeld for the SAME illness within any rolling 3-year window — and the 6 weeks of employer Entgeltfortzahlung count toward that 78. A truly new, unrelated diagnosis starts its own fresh 78-week clock. This is why the Krankenkasse sometimes sends you to the MDK (medical review service) to confirm whether a relapse is "same illness" or "new condition."
PKV sick pay — very different
PKV members do NOT get GKV Krankengeld. Instead, PKV customers must buy a Krankentagegeld-Tarif separately, which kicks in after a deductible period (usually day 43, sometimes day 15 if you pay extra). The amount is whatever you insured — typically enough to cover normal income. This is a common blind spot for Blue Card holders on PKV: check your PKV policy TODAY for the Krankentagegeld clause.
| Provider | Insurance | Start | Amount | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GKV statutory Best | Day 43 (after employer 6 wks) | 70% gross / 90% net | 78 wks/3y | |
PKV with Krankentagegeld-Tarif Check your policy! | Day 15 or 43 depending on tariff | Whatever you insured | Variable, often lifetime | |
PKV without Krankentagegeld-Tarif No income after employer's 6 weeks | Never | €0 | N/A |
- Insurance
- Day 43 (after employer 6 wks)
- Start
- 70% gross / 90% net
- Amount
- 78 wks/3y
- Duration
Check your policy!
- Insurance
- Day 15 or 43 depending on tariff
- Start
- Whatever you insured
- Amount
- Variable, often lifetime
- Duration
No income after employer's 6 weeks
- Insurance
- Never
- Start
- €0
- Amount
- N/A
- Duration
Job protection while sick
- Firing ban during illnessEmployer cannot fire for being sick per se
- Krankheitsbedingte KündigungPossible only after long absence + bad prognosis
- AU-Bescheinigung requiredDoctor's note by day 4 for ALL absences
- BEM — WiedereingliederungEmployer must offer reintegration after 6+ weeks off
Being fired while sick is not automatic. Germany has one of the strongest employee protections in Europe. An employer can only terminate for illness (krankheitsbedingte Kündigung) under three conditions: (1) a negative health prognosis, (2) significant operational disruption, and (3) weighing of interests — all three together. Labour courts regularly side with employees. Long absence alone is not grounds.
What happens after 78 weeks
Week 75–78 — Aussteuerung
~3 weeksThe Krankenkasse flags you for Aussteuerung (end of Krankengeld). They will push you toward reha or a disability pension application.
Reha first — Medizinische Rehabilitation
3–6 weeks, sometimes longerDRV (pension fund) funds an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. Success rate 60–70% for return-to-work.
If work-capacity is still reduced — Erwerbsminderungsrente
Application takes 4–6 monthsIf able to work less than 3h/day = full Rente. 3–6h/day = partial Rente. Decided by medical assessment.
If Rente is denied — ALG 1 / Bürgergeld
Whichever appliesIf the Agentur declares you arbeitsfähig, you move to ALG 1 if you qualify. Otherwise Bürgergeld after household check.
Protections and limits at a glance
What protects you
- 100% pay for the first 6 weeks from the employer — no paperwork beyond the AU-Bescheinigung
- 70% of gross (or 90% of net) for 72 more weeks from GKV — tax-free direct, but Progressionsvorbehalt applies
- Health, pension, long-term care contributions continue throughout — the Krankenkasse pays them
- Firing for illness alone is very rare and legally high-bar — German courts side with workers
- Kids under 12 with illness = Kinderkrankengeld — 15 days per child per parent per year from GKV at 90% net
What to watch
- BBG cap at €135.63/day means high-earners take a significant pay cut compared to full salary
- 78-week clock is per-condition — a relapse of the same illness does not reset
- Sick note (AU-Bescheinigung) must be submitted by day 4 or sooner (contract may say day 1)
- PKV members without a Krankentagegeld-Tarif have zero income after the employer's 6 weeks — check your PKV today
Timeline — from first sick day to monthly payment
Day 1 — call in sick
Morning ofNotify employer by phone or the company sick-line before shift start. German labour courts call this the Anzeigepflicht.
Day 1–3 — see a doctor
Same weekGet the Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (AU). Since 2023 most GKV-insured workers use the elektronische AU — the doctor sends it digitally to the Krankenkasse and employer.
Day 4 — deadline for sick note
LatestBy §5 EFZG. Many contracts require it on day 1 — check yours.
Week 7 — Krankengeld kicks in
Automatic transitionIf AU is renewed into week 7, GKV starts Krankengeld. First payment arrives 4–6 weeks after the transition, backdated.
Every 1–2 weeks — renew AU
RecurringYou must keep the AU continuous. A single day gap can reset the 6-week employer clock AND break continuity for GKV.
Month 6, 12 — MDK review
PossibleThe Medizinischer Dienst may check whether you remain arbeitsunfähig for the job you had. They can redirect you to reha early.
Kinderkrankengeld — when your kid is sick
If your child under 12 is sick and a doctor confirms you must stay home, GKV pays Kinderkrankengeld at 90% of your net for up to 15 days per child per parent per year (30 for single parents). Maximum 35 per parent per year, 70 for single parents. Your job is protected. The claim is per parent — both can split it.
You are covered if you get sick
Bottom line for South Asian newcomers. Germany treats illness as an insurance event, not a character flaw or productivity problem. Your employer must pay 100% for 6 weeks, then GKV pays 70–90% for up to 18 more months. Your job is legally protected, your residence permit is unaffected because Krankengeld is insurance (not welfare), and even after 78 weeks the system routes you to reha or Erwerbsminderungsrente. The one big caveat is PKV: private-insurance holders MUST buy a Krankentagegeld-Tarif separately or they get nothing after the employer's 6 weeks.
Related safety-net posts
- ALG 1: 60% of your salary when a job ends
- Bürgergeld: €563/month + rent if everything collapses
- Mutterschaftsgeld: 14 weeks full pay around birth
- Pflegegeld: long-term care payments
- Crisis scenarios page — what to do when everything goes wrong
Sources: SGB V (gesetze-im-internet.de), Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz, GKV-Spitzenverband — Krankengeld.
Last updated: 2026-04-23