How the Sick Pay Calculator Works (Status 2026)

This calculator estimates your statutory sick pay (Krankengeld) once the continued payment of wages by the employer ends. For employees, this is usually the case after 6 weeks (42 calendar days) due to the same illness. From day 43, the health insurance fund pays sick pay – always per calendar day. For monthly values, the legislator calculates with 30 days per month. That's why the calculator shows you daily, monthly, and (optional) total values for a freely selectable number of sick pay days.

What you enter – and why:
Gross (monthly) is the basis for the regular remuneration. Net (monthly) is used for the 90% net limit and the net gap. Children/Childless surcharge influence the employee share in the nursing care insurance. With "Sick Pay Days" you get an additional rough total sum (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 days).

Calculation logic explained:
1) Starting point is your contribution-liable gross (regular pay). Gross only counts up to the contribution assessment ceiling of the health and nursing care insurance. In 2026, this is 5,812.50 $ per month. Anything above that does not increase your sick pay further. The calculator therefore works with "capped gross" = min(gross, 5,812.50 $).

2) On the capped gross, 70% is set as gross sick pay. At the same time, the 90% net brake applies: Sick pay may amount to a maximum of 90% of the net earnings. The calculator therefore compares 70% of the gross with 90% of the net (both converted to 30 days) and takes the lower value. One-off payments (e.g., holiday pay/Christmas bonus) can play a proportional role in real fund calculations – this estimate deliberately only looks at the current monthly pay because one-off payments and special cases vary greatly depending on the employment contract.

3) Social security contributions during sick pay: In statutory health insurance, you are generally contribution-free while receiving sick pay. However, contributions to pension, unemployment, and nursing care insurance may continue to apply. You bear the employee share; the health insurance fund covers the employer share. For 2026, the calculator uses the general contribution rates (Pension 18.6%, Unemployment 2.6%, Nursing 3.6%) and calculates the employee shares from them (half each). In nursing care insurance, depending on the number of children, a surcharge (childless from 23) or a relief (from the second to the fifth child) may apply; you set this above.

4) Contribution basis for deductions: For these deductions, 80% of the regular pay is often set as contribution-liable income. Therefore, the calculator sets 80% of the capped gross as the contribution basis and deducts the employee shares (Pension/Unemp/Nursing) from it. This gives you a practical net sick pay.

5) Added value: Besides gross/net, the calculator shows you the net gap (difference to your previous net), the replacement rate in percent, and – if you enter sick pay days – a rough total sum. This allows you to plan reserves, check fixed costs, and play through scenarios.

Important: This is a realistic orientation, not a guarantee. Rounding, partial months, special pay models, or special contribution law cases can change the result. Use the values for planning – and compare them later with the calculation from your health insurance fund.

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