Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act due to child care

Working custodians are entitled to compensation for their loss of earnings if a child had to go into quarantine or schools or day-care centres were closed for infection control reasons and they ensure the care of their child or children themselves. Children must not have reached the age of 12. This age restriction does not apply to disabled children. The entitlement also applies to foster children.

The compensation depends on your earnings.

Compensation is granted for a maximum closure period of ten weeks, or 20 weeks in the case of single parents. It amounts to 67% of your net earnings for each day of care (Monday to Friday), for a full month a maximum of 2,016 euros.

Please note:

If the institution would close for holidays anyway, this rule does not apply in principle.

If you have concluded a childcare contract with an after-school care centre, you are also entitled to compensation during the school holidays.

Before you receive this compensation, you must exhaust all other reasonable care options. These are, for example, childcare by family members or friends, home office, reduction of time credits or leave.

Care by so-called "risk groups" should be avoided. These include, above all, older people or people with previous illnesses.

There is no entitlement to compensation in the case of short-time work.

For workers/employees applies:

Your employer will pay you compensation for the duration of the closure period. The employer is reimbursed by the competent authority for the amounts paid.

Therefore, inform your employer immediately about your childcare situation so that he/she can apply for compensation. If your employer (especially smaller companies) cannot pay in advance, advances in the expected amount of the reimbursement can be applied for.

In exceptional cases, you can submit the application for compensation yourself.

For employers/employees applies:

You must pay compensation to your employees for the duration of the closure period. You can have the amounts paid reimbursed by the competent authority.

Contributions to pension, nursing care and health insurance can also be reimbursed.

You can also apply for an advance.

For the self-employed:

You will receive the reimbursement directly from the competent authority.

For the calculation of the loss of earnings, your last annual profit is taken into account. This is divided by twelve.

You can also have your pension, nursing care and health insurance contributions reimbursed.

You can also apply for an advance.

The following applies to home workers:

Unlike the self-employed, your average monthly income is taken into account for the calculation.