German sick pay — six weeks and when they start again
Within one incapacity the employer pays up to six weeks; weeks already paid are counted. The reopening rule applies only to the SAME illness: weeks for a DIFFERENT, later incapacity are not counted — but if the other illness arises during an incapacity already running, the six weeks do not start again, since sentence 1 counts "the period of incapacity" (not modelled). And the two reopening periods are ALTERNATIVE: six months clear OR twelve months since the FIRST incapacity.
2026 rules — verified on September 22, 2026Free, no account
Your result
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Sources and assumptions
- gesetze-im-internet.de — EntgFG § 3 Abs. 1 Satz 1 — tax year 2026, verified on September 22, 2026
Excerpt from the source : « so hat er Anspruch auf Entgeltfortzahlung im Krankheitsfall durch den Arbeitgeber für die Zeit der Arbeitsunfähigkeit bis zur Dauer von sechs Wochen »
- gesetze-im-internet.de — EntgFG § 3 Abs. 3 — tax year 2026, verified on September 22, 2026
Excerpt from the source : « Der Anspruch nach Absatz 1 entsteht nach vierwöchiger ununterbrochener Dauer des Arbeitsverhältnisses. »
- gesetze-im-internet.de — EntgFG § 3 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 1 — tax year 2026, verified on September 22, 2026
Excerpt from the source : « er vor der erneuten Arbeitsunfähigkeit mindestens sechs Monate nicht infolge derselben Krankheit arbeitsunfähig war »
- gesetze-im-internet.de — EntgFG § 3 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 2 — tax year 2026, verified on September 22, 2026
Excerpt from the source : « seit Beginn der ersten Arbeitsunfähigkeit infolge derselben Krankheit eine Frist von zwölf Monaten abgelaufen ist »
Calculation assumptions
- The computation is in whole weeks, as the statute expresses them — not in calendar days.
- Excluding the sickness benefit to which members of the statutory health insurance may be entitled under SGB V s. 44 (not all insured persons, e.g. not the privately insured), and the amount of pay to be continued, which EntgFG s. 4 determines.
- Whether this is the SAME illness is a medical question and is an input: the calculator does not decide it.
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This result is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised tax advice. Check your situation with the tax authorities or a professional.