Germany to reduce child sick pay entitlements in 2027

The German government plans to reduce entitlements for child sick pay (Kinderkrankengeld) starting January 1, 2027. This move aims to roll back special regulations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and is part of the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz, which seeks to save approximately 100 million euros to stabilize statutory health insurance contribution rates.

Under the proposed changes, the number of paid days off per parent per child will decrease from 15 to 10 working days. The impact varies by family size: for two children, the total quota drops from 30 to 20 days, while for families with three or more children, the maximum entitlement will fall from 35 to 25 days.

Single parents will face significant reductions. For one child, the entitlement drops from 30 to 20 days; for two children, it decreases from 60 to 40 days; and for three or more children, the maximum entitlement will be reduced from 70 to 50 days. Politicians and social associations have warned that these cuts may place a heavy burden on women and single-parent households.