Sick pay for the self-employed: elective declaration and cover

Self-employed people voluntarily insured in the statutory health fund have, by default, no claim to sick pay from the seventh week, but they can cover themselves: through an elective declaration for statutory sick pay or through an optional sick-pay tariff or a private daily sickness allowance insurance.

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Your chances of getting your money back

Self-employed people can, through an elective declaration, secure the claim to statutory sick pay (from the seventh week), which increases the premium. Alternatively, there are optional tariffs of the fund or a private daily sickness allowance insurance, often with an earlier start of benefits.

With the right cover, in a longer illness you receive a replacement for your lost earnings. What matters is making the choice in time and suited to your needs.

What you should do now

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1. Clarify your status
Check whether you are voluntarily insured in the statutory fund and what sick-pay protection currently exists.
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2. Compare the options
Compare the elective declaration (statutory sick pay), the fund's optional tariff and private daily sickness allowance insurance by start of benefits and premium.
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3. Choose the cover
Make the choice suited to your liquidity needs, the earlier the start of benefits, the higher the premium usually is.
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4. Report in case of illness
In case of longer illness, prove the incapacity for work seamlessly and assert the benefit in time.

How to spot the scam

You assume that as a self-employed person you automatically get sick pay.
The cover does not fit your liquidity needs (too late a start of benefits).
In case of illness, seamless evidence is missing.

Frequently asked questions

Do the self-employed automatically get sick pay?

No. Voluntarily statutorily insured self-employed people have, by default, no claim to statutory sick pay from the seventh week. You have to actively secure cover, for example through an elective declaration, an optional tariff or a private daily sickness allowance insurance.

Which cover fits me?

That depends on how long you can bridge a loss of earnings. The earlier the start of benefits (for example a daily allowance from the third week), the higher the premium usually is. Compare the options by start of benefits and cost.

What do I have to do in case of illness?

Prove the incapacity for work medically and seamlessly and assert the benefit in time with the fund or the insurer. Watch out for the agreed waiting period and the required evidence.

Take action now

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.