🩺 Child's illness and time off work

If your child falls ill, as a single parent you are entitled to twice as many child sick days as couples – for 2026 a temporary increase also applies.

Child sick pay (Kinderkrankengeld) Child sick days Time off work § 45 SGB V

In brief

If your child, who is covered by statutory health insurance and under 12, falls ill and needs care, as a working single parent covered by statutory health insurance you are entitled to time off work and to child sick pay from your health insurance fund – for twice as many days as couples. A medical certificate confirming that care is necessary is a requirement.

For 2026 a temporary special rule with increased days applies. The child sick pay itself is paid by your statutory health insurance fund at 90 percent of the lost net earnings.

Step by step

Get a medical certificateHave the paediatrician certify that caring for your sick child is necessary and that no other person living in the household can take it on.
Inform your employerInform your employer without delay of your inability to work and present the certificate.
Apply for child sick paySubmit the certificate to your statutory health insurance fund to receive child sick pay for the days of absence.
Keep track of available daysWith several children or several illnesses in a year, keep a record of days already used, since an annual maximum applies.
Assert time off if privately insuredIf you or your child are privately insured, there is no entitlement to child sick pay from the statutory health insurance, but in principle there is still an entitlement to time off work – clarify payment for this time with your employer.

Deadlines

under 12 years

Age limit of the child for the entitlement (exception for disability and dependence on help)§ 45 Abs. 1 SGB V

per child and year

Standard entitlement: 10 working days per child, for single parents 20 working days; in total at most 25 or 50 working days per year regardless of the number of children§ 45 Abs. 2 SGB V

Watch out – common mistakes

Only working people covered by statutory health insurance receive child sick pay for children covered by statutory health insurance – if either of the two is privately insured, the entitlement to payment lapses, but the pure entitlement to time off work can exist regardless.
For 2026 a temporary increase in days applies; § 45 Abs. 2a SGB V expressly names only "the calendar year 2026" (15/30 working days per child, at most 35/70). From 1 January 2027, according to the text of the law, the standard rule applies again (10/20 per child, at most 25/50), unless the legislature decides otherwise; an extension is not documented – check the current position with your health insurance fund.
§ 616 BGB is contractually excluded by many employers – in short-notice childcare emergencies, do not automatically rely on paid time off without child sick pay.
The maximum applies per year and per person, not per illness – with several children the days count together up to the overall maximum.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Standard entitlement and special rule 2026 (§ 45 SGB V)

The statutory standard entitlement is 10 working days per child and calendar year, for insured single parents 20 working days; regardless of the number of children an annual overall maximum of 25 working days applies (single parents: 50 working days). For the year 2026, under the current text of the law a temporarily increased rule applies: 15 working days per child (single parents: 30 working days), at most 35 working days in total (single parents: 70 working days) (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved September 2026).

Amount of the benefit

Child sick pay is 90 percent of the lost net earnings, 100 percent where one-off pay was also received, limited to 70 percent of the contribution assessment ceiling. Self-employed people receive 70 percent of their regular earned income.

Requirements

The requirements are that the child has not yet turned twelve or is disabled and dependent on help, a medical certificate confirms that supervision, care or nursing is necessary, and no other person in the household can take over the care.

Time off work regardless of sick pay

The entitlement to time off work to care for a sick child is to be distinguished from payment of child sick pay: the time off itself can in principle also come into consideration regardless of insurance status, whereas child sick pay, as an earnings replacement benefit, is due only to those covered by statutory insurance.

Who is responsible

Statutory health insurance fund

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Child's illness and time off work“?

If your child falls ill, as a single parent you are entitled to twice as many child sick days as couples – for 2026 a temporary increase also applies.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

under 12 years: Age limit of the child for the entitlement (exception for disability and dependence on help) (§ 45 Abs. 1 SGB V)
per child and year: Standard entitlement: 10 working days per child, for single parents 20 working days; in total at most 25 or 50 working days per year regardless of the number of children (§ 45 Abs. 2 SGB V)

What should I do first?

Get a medical certificate: Have the paediatrician certify that caring for your sick child is necessary and that no other person living in the household can take it on.
Inform your employer: Inform your employer without delay of your inability to work and present the certificate.
Apply for child sick pay: Submit the certificate to your statutory health insurance fund to receive child sick pay for the days of absence.

What do I need to watch out for?

Only working people covered by statutory health insurance receive child sick pay for children covered by statutory health insurance – if either of the two is privately insured, the entitlement to payment lapses, but the pure entitlement to time off work can exist regardless.
For 2026 a temporary increase in days applies; § 45 Abs. 2a SGB V expressly names only "the calendar year 2026" (15/30 working days per child, at most 35/70). From 1 January 2027, according to the text of the law, the standard rule applies again (10/20 per child, at most 25/50), unless the legislature decides otherwise; an extension is not documented – check the current position with your health insurance fund.
§ 616 BGB is contractually excluded by many employers – in short-notice childcare emergencies, do not automatically rely on paid time off without child sick pay.

Evidence

§ 45 SGB V (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved September 2026)

As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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