Unable to work for a longer period of time
How to apply for sick pay – step by step
Updated 10/24/2025 – 7:25 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Anyone who is unable to work for more than six weeks generally does not receive any money more from the employer. Instead, the health insurance company steps in.
Regardless of whether you have a broken leg or burnout: If you cannot work for more than six weeks, statutory health insurance supports you financially with so-called sick pay. This refers to a benefit that you can receive when your employer’s continued payment of wages ends. We’ll show you what you need to do to get sick pay.
People with statutory health insurance are entitled to sick pay from the day their doctor writes them off sick. As a rule, the employer initially continues to pay the full salary for six weeks. This means: Only if you are unable to work for more than six weeks will the health insurance company step in with sick pay.
Self-employed people such as artists have no legal right to sick pay. However, you can protect yourself by submitting a declaration of choice to your statutory health insurance company. You will then receive sick pay from the 43rd day of your sick leave. To do this, you have to take out a corresponding optional tariff and therefore pay a higher contribution.
Anyone who has private health insurance also does not automatically receive sick pay. You have to protect yourself extra with the so-called daily sickness benefit.
Since October 2021, you have had to do relatively little to get your sick pay. Since then, doctors’ practices have been sending the medical certificate of incapacity for work digitally to the health insurance companies and your employer.
You will receive sick pay as soon as your health insurance company has checked the certificate and the employer has informed the health insurance company how much you earn after the end of the six weeks of continued payment of wages. Read more here about how much sick pay is and how long you will receive it.
