Sick pay: a guide for job seekers

If you receive unemployment benefits and become unable to work due to illness, you will usually qualify for sick pay.

In the first 6 weeks of your illness, you will continue to receive benefits from the employment agency. After that, we pay sick pay equal to the amount of your unemployment benefits. The employment agency informs us of the amount you received before you fell ill.

You do not pay any social insurance contributions whilst receiving sick pay. The exception is the contribution surcharge for long-term care insurance for people aged 23 and over who do not have children.

When is sick pay paid?Unlike unemployment benefits,  sick pay is always paid retroactively . Once we receive a new certificate from your doctor, we will pay sick pay for the previous period of illness. 

You can receive sick pay for the same illness for up to 78 weeks within 3 years.

Please note that if you receive Bürgergeld [Basic Citizen's Income], you will continue to get this benefit if you are not fit to work. You are not entitled to separate sick pay.