Benefits & Tax
How long do you get Krankengeld (sick pay) in Germany?
Estimated wait
~1.5 years
Based on published sources
The 78 weeks run per illness within a fixed 3-year block, and the 6 weeks of employer pay are counted toward it — Krankengeld does NOT restart every 6 weeks, so the fund pays up to about 72 weeks, not a fresh 78.
For the same illness, your total protected window is 78 weeks (about 1.5 years) within a rolling three-year block, set by § 48 SGB V. Your employer pays your full wage for the first 6 weeks (Entgeltfortzahlung); only after that does the health fund pay Krankengeld — up to roughly the remaining 72 weeks.
More details
Most people never come close to the cap. For long-term illness, the 78-week ceiling is the hard limit before you must move on to rehabilitation, a reduced-earning-capacity pension, or unemployment benefit.
How the process works
- 1Same illness begins — employer pays full wage for 6 weeks (Entgeltfortzahlung)
- 2Krankengeld from the health fund starts (week 7) and runs up to ~72 more weeks ↑ the time on this page
- 3Hard ceiling: 78 weeks total per illness within 3 years
- 4After that: rehab, reduced-capacity pension or unemployment benefit
Last updated: 10 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.