Carer’s leave & family carer’s leave: Time off for care
Who is carer’s leave and family carer’s leave intended for? A care case in the family can occur suddenly and working family members then have to take care of the organisation, which requires a lot of thought. A rapid deterioration in the health of the person in need of care can also lead to relatives suddenly having to devote more time to caring.
What does the law say?
In order to give carers the opportunity to fulfil their short-term family obligations, the legislator has introduced measures such as short-term absence from work, care leave and family care leave. Another form of support is leave of absence for carers in the last phase of life. Another option is so-called bridging part-time work.
The law to improve the compatibility of family, care and work (German) came into force on 1 January 2015. Since 1 January 2024, there have been adjustments to short-term absence from work.
What types of career breaks are there for carers?
Short-term absence from work: 10-day leave of absence
In an acute, unplannable care situation, close relatives have the option of taking up to 10 working days off work.
Note: Since 1 January 2024, the entitlement applies per calendar year! Previously, it was limited to a one-off total of ten days per person in need of care.
No care degree must have been determined, but there must be a need for care (German). The 10 working days do not have to be taken in one go and can be divided between several relatives. The entitlement applies to all employers, regardless of the number of employees. During the short-term absence from work, which, like all other leave options, is unpaid, the care support allowance is available as a wage replacement benefit (German). This must be applied for from the care insurance fund of the person in need of care.
Carer’s leave: leave of absence for up to 6 months
Employees of companies with more than 15 employees can take up to six months off work in full or in part with carers’ leave. The prerequisite for this is that the relative has at least care level 1 and the care is provided in a home environment. The employer must be notified in writing at least 10 days before the leave is taken, stating the period and, if applicable, the extent of the part-time leave. It is possible to apply for an interest-free loan (German) from the Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions for care leave. The employer does not pay a salary during the leave of absence.
Family care leave: up to 24 months with partial leave of absence
With family carer leave, employees of companies with more than 25 employees can take up to 24 months of partial leave from work. The prerequisite for this is that the relative has at least care grade 1, the care takes place in a home environment and the working hours are at least 15 hours per week. The minimum working time of 15 hours applies as an annual average. The specific organisation and distribution can be adapted to the needs of the employee and their relative in need of care. The employer must be notified in writing at least 8 weeks before the start of the leave, stating the period and new working hours. To compensate for the loss of earnings, an interest-free loan (German) can be applied for from the Federal Office for Family Affairs in Cologne during family care leave.
Support in the last phase of life
When providing support in the last phase of life, relatives of people in need of care have the option of taking a full or partial leave of absence from work for a maximum of 3 months. The person requiring care does not have to be cared for at home during this time. They can also be accommodated in a nursing home, hospital, palliative care unit or hospice. For this period, an interest-free loan (German) can be taken out for the period of absence from work, which must then be repaid.
An alternative: bridging part-time work
Bridging part-time work has been in force since 1 January. With bridge part-time work, employees of companies have the right to work part-time for between one and five years. After bridging part-time work, employees have the right to work as many hours as before. In order to be eligible, a company must have at least 45 employees on a permanent basis and the employment relationship must have been in place for more than six months. The application must be submitted in text form at least three months before the start of the desired reduction, without giving reasons.
Frequent questions:
How can care time be financed?
In the event of a partial leave of absence, the salary is reduced accordingly. In the case of a full leave of absence, there is no entitlement to salary payments. To bridge this period financially, there is an interest-free loan (German) from the state. This is paid out in monthly instalments. At the end of the care/family care leave, it must also be repaid in instalments. You can calculate the amount of the interest-free loan and the repayment instalments online and anonymously here.
What happens to the insurance policies?
Your insurance cover continues if you only take partial leave of absence. If you take a full leave of absence, you will not continue to be covered by health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. In the case of health and long-term care insurance, married persons may be covered by family insurance, otherwise health and long-term care insurance will no longer apply and you will have to take out voluntary insurance. In this case, the long-term care insurance fund of the person in need of care pays a subsidy. Unemployment insurance is covered by the care fund of the person in need of care during the care period without any restrictions. However, this does not apply to employees who were previously marginally employed.
How do you apply for carers’ leave?
You must apply to your employer for carers’ leave. To do this, you will need proof of the need for care – a certificate from the care insurance fund or the Medical Service (MD) and information on when, how long and to what extent the leave of absence is required. This should be submitted to your employer at least 10 days before you take the care leave. For family carer’s leave, this is 8 weeks. Ask your employer to confirm the agreement in writing.
