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Sickness benefit

If you are ill for an extended period and therefore unable to work, we are there for you. With sickness benefit, we secure your financial basis - reliably, tax-free and uncomplicated.

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Entitlement to sickness benefit

As a rule, your employer will continue to pay your salary for up to 6 weeks in the event of illness (continued remuneration). If you are receiving unemployment benefit, the employment agency will also continue to pay for the same period.
If you are still unable to work after this period, the ZF BKK will step in - with sick pay. This also applies to many mini-jobbers.

Prerequisite: You must have statutory health insurance and be entitled to sickness benefit.

Procedure for reporting sick

Since 2023, sick notes have been issued electronically (eAU): your doctor's practice sends us the certificate of incapacity for work digitally. You don't have to do anything else.

If you still receive a paper certificate, you can upload it conveniently via youronline officeor ZF BKK Service App.

Sick note by telephone or video consultation

Under certain conditions, sick notes can also be issued by telephone or video:

Sick note by telephone

  • Only for known patients
  • Valid for a maximum of 5 calendar days
  • No severe symptoms
  • Practice must not offer video consultations

Sick note via video consultation

  • Initial certificate: maximum 7 calendar days
  • Follow-up sick notes possible if initial contact was made in person
  • Patient must be known to the practice
  • Medical assessment decides on the suitability of remote treatment

 

Not permitted: Sick note via chat, questionnaire or online form without a medical consultation.

Good to know: We cover the costs of medical video consultations - provided the practice has a health insurance license.

Amount of sickness benefit

The sickness benefit amounts to:

  • 70 % of your gross pay, but no more than
  • 90 % of your net income.

One-off payments such as vacation or Christmas bonuses can increase the sickness benefit.

For 2025, a maximum daily amount of € 128.63 applies - based on the contribution assessment ceiling.

Our service - we accompany you personally

You will have a personal contact person at your side for the entire duration of your incapacity for work. We will support you in submitting applications, filling out forms - and also when other institutions such as German Pension Insurance come into play (e.g. when applying for rehabilitation).

You can submit your declaration for checking your entitlement to sickness benefit quickly and easily at your online office.

Social security contributions while receiving sick pay

While you are receiving sick pay, you remain insured in the health insurance scheme without having to pay contributions.
Contributions to pension, long-term care and unemployment insurance continue to accrue - we pay the employer's share.

Extra protection thanks to supplementary insurance

With supplementary sickness benefit insurance from our partner Barmenia Krankenversicherung a. G., you can extend your cover to suit your individual needs.

Good to know

The eAU is sent to us directly by the doctor's practice. You do not need to submit anything else. We only require a paper certificate in exceptional cases.

Yes, as long as you are entitled to continued payment of your salary and are insured by law with sickness benefit entitlement.

In principle, up to 78 weeks for the same illness within 3 years - depending on the course of your incapacity for work and medical assessments.

We will be happy to advise you on how to apply. In some cases, the German Pension Insurance is responsible - we can also help you with this.

Yes, you can increase your financial security with private supplementary insurance from our partner, Barmenia Krankenversicherung a. G..

Quick and easy via our online office - without any paperwork.