Practical guide
Krankengeld: sick pay from your insurer
Source text as of 2 September 2026 · General information
For employees with statutory health insurance, employers generally continue wages for up to 6 weeks. Krankengeld from the health insurer may follow.
Documents and information to prepare
- Health insurance details
- Evidence of continuous certified incapacity for work
- Questionnaires or forms sent by the health insurer
- Employer details and recent payslips for checking
- Employer’s earnings certificate sent to the health insurer
- Hospital or rehabilitation documents where applicable
- Bank details and correspondence from the health insurer
- Paper medical certificates for exceptions to the eAU procedure
Important to know
In the usual case, a separate Krankengeld application is not needed. The doctor sends the eAU and the employer sends earnings data. However, incapacity certificates must cover the period without gaps.
Official sources and forms
Official information on KrankengeldElectronic incapacity certificate · eAUThis guide provides general information. The institution or provider may request additional documents depending on your circumstances.