Krankengeld is the sickness benefit from the statutory health insurance in Germany. You receive it if your illness lasts longer than six weeks.
Krankengeld is also known as sick pay in English.
Krankengeld replaces part of your income until you can work again or the legal maximum period is reached. The sickness benefit is 70% of your gross salary, but not more than 90% of your net wage (as of 2025).
You can avail of sickness benefits for 78 weeks within three years per illness (§ 48 SGB V). In the first six weeks, you’ll receive your salary from your employer as usual.
So, you can get sick pay for 72 weeks from your health insurance provider.
How do you apply for sick pay in Germany ->
As an expat in Germany, you may come across the term Krankengeld when
- talking to your health insurance provider,
- receiving an AU certificate (doctor’s certificate of incapacity for work), or
- asking about continued salary payments.
Examples:
- You are sick for six weeks, and your employer continues to pay your salary. From day 43, the health insurance pays Krankengeld.
- With a long illness (e.g. several months), you receive Krankengeld from your health insurance up to the legal maximum (78 weeks for the same illness).