Sickness Benefit Calculator – Krankengeld (2026)
Krankengeld (sickness benefit) starts after 6 weeks of full sick pay from your employer. It pays 70 % of your gross salary, capped at 90 % of net and at about €128.63 per calendar day as of 2026, minus roughly 12 % social contributions — for up to 78 weeks per illness.
Last updated: August 8, 2026
Month = calendar day × 30. Maximum 2026: approx. €128.63 per calendar day.
Approximation, as of 2026 — not financial, legal or medical advice. Social contributions are set at a flat 12 %; the exact rate depends on children and your insurer's supplementary rate. Only your health insurer's calculation based on your last payroll month is binding. Amounts shown in German number format (1.900,00 € = €1,900).
What is Krankengeld?
Krankengeld (sickness benefit) is what Germany's public health insurance pays when you are on long-term sick leave. It only becomes relevant after six weeks: until day 42 your employer must continue paying your full salary (Entgeltfortzahlung). From the 7th week the Krankenkasse (public health insurer) takes over — at a noticeably lower level, which is exactly the gap this calculator shows.
70 % of gross — but three caps
Krankengeld is 70 % of your regular gross salary, limited twice over: it may not exceed 90 % of your net salary, and the contribution ceiling caps it at about €128.63 per calendar day in 2026 — no matter how much you earn. Calculation runs in calendar days: every month counts as a flat 30 days, and weekends are paid too.
minus approx. 12 % contributions to pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance
| Phase | Who pays | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–6 | Employer | 100 % of salary |
| Week 7 onwards | Health insurer | 70 % gross, max. 90 % net, max. €128.63/day |
| After 78 weeks | — | End of Krankengeld ("Aussteuerung") |
Deductions from Krankengeld
From the gross daily rate the insurer deducts your share of pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance — around 12 % in total. Krankengeld is tax-free but counts towards your tax rate on other income (Progressionsvorbehalt). One-off payments such as Christmas bonus from the last 12 months increase the reference salary proportionally, so check that your insurer included them.
How to get it
There is no separate application in most cases: your doctor reports the sick note electronically (eAU) to your Krankenkasse, which contacts you once employer sick pay ends — usually with a short payout form to complete. Keep your sick notes seamless: a single day's gap between certificates can interrupt the entitlement.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Krankengeld?
70 % of your regular gross salary, but no more than 90 % of your net — the lower value applies. In addition, the contribution ceiling caps Krankengeld at about €128.63 per calendar day in 2026. From that amount your own contributions to pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance are deducted, roughly 12 %.
When does the health insurer start paying?
For the first 6 weeks (42 calendar days) your employer continues to pay your full salary (Entgeltfortzahlung). Only from the 7th week of illness does the public health insurer step in with Krankengeld — so the income drop hits after about a month and a half of sick leave.
How long can I receive Krankengeld?
For the same illness, a maximum of 78 weeks within 3 years — minus the 6 weeks of employer sick pay, that leaves 72 weeks paid by the insurer. After that, if you are still unable to work, you are “ausgesteuert” and usually transition to unemployment benefit or a reduced-earning-capacity pension.
Are taxes or contributions deducted from Krankengeld?
Krankengeld itself is tax-free, but it is subject to Progressionsvorbehalt: it can raise the tax rate on your other income. You also pay your share of pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance — together roughly 12 % — so the net amount is noticeably lower than the gross figure in the decision letter.
What about privately insured employees and freelancers?
Privately insured people have no statutory Krankengeld — they need a private daily sickness allowance policy (Krankentagegeld) with a self-chosen daily rate. Voluntarily publicly insured self-employed people can cover Krankengeld from day 43 via the reduced contribution rate plus an election declaration, or via an optional tariff.