Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act for loss of earnings of persons with custody

Working custodians are entitled to compensation for their loss of earnings if schools or daycare centers have been closed for reasons of infection 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.

Compensation depends on your earnings.

Compensation is granted for a maximum closure period of 6 weeks. It amounts to 67% of your net earnings, for a full month a maximum of 2,016 euros.

If the facility would close anyway due to holidays, this rule does not apply in principle.

If you have concluded a childcare contract with an after-school care facility, 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 vacation.

Care by so-called "risk groups" should be avoided. These include, above all, the elderly or people with pre-existing conditions.

In the case of short-time work, there is no entitlement to compensation.

The following applies to employees:

Your employer will pay you the compensation for the duration of the closure period, for a maximum of 6 weeks. The employer will be reimbursed for the amounts paid out by the competent authority.

Therefore, inform your employer immediately about your childcare situation so that he or she can apply for compensation. If your employer (especially smaller companies) is unable to make advance payments, you can apply for advances in the expected amount of the reimbursement.

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

The following applies to employers:

You must pay the compensation to your employees for the duration of the closure period, for a maximum of 6 weeks (advance payment). You may be reimbursed by the competent authority for the sums paid.

Contributions to pension, long-term care and health insurance can also be reimbursed.

You can also apply for an advance.

The following applies to the self-employed:

You will be reimbursed 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 12.

Contributions to pension, long-term care and health insurance can also be 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.