Short answer
After six weeks of continued pay from the employer, the Krankenkasse pays Krankengeld: 70 percent of regular gross pay, at most 90 percent of the net, for up to 78 weeks per illness within three years. Arbeitslosengeld I is 60 percent of a flat-rate net pay, 67 percent with a child, usually for 12 months, longer for older people with a long insurance record.When pay stops Germany
Krankengeld and Arbeitslosengeld: how much, and for how long?
The rules, not a calculator: both amounts depend on details only the Krankenkasse or the Agentur für Arbeit holds, so this page explains them and links the official tools.Krankengeld
For the first six weeks of an illness the employer keeps paying full pay. From the seventh week the Krankenkasse pays Krankengeld: 70 percent of the regular gross pay, counted only up to the health insurance contribution ceiling, and at most 90 percent of the net pay. Pension, unemployment and care contributions are then deducted from it, so roughly a tenth less arrives. It lasts up to 78 weeks for the same illness within three years. The Krankenkasse calculates the exact amount.
Arbeitslosengeld I
The Agentur für Arbeit takes the gross pay of the last twelve months, up to the pension contribution ceiling, as a daily amount, and deducts a flat 20 percent for social contributions and the wage tax of the tax class held at the start of the year. Of what is left it pays 60 percent, or 67 percent with a child. A change of tax class shortly before unemployment counts only if it matches how the couple's pay is divided.
How long Arbeitslosengeld lasts
Twelve months after at least 24 months of insured work in the last five years for people under 50. From 50 it rises step by step, to 24 months from 58 with 48 insured months. A notice given by the employee, or a severance agreement, can mean a blocking period of up to twelve weeks first.
What to do first
Register as looking for work no later than three months before a job ends, or within three days of learning of it. A late registration costs a week of benefit. The Agentur für Arbeit's own calculator estimates the amount from the payslips.