Applying for compensation under the Infection Protection Act for childcare

Under certain conditions, you are entitled to compensation for your loss of earnings if a child has had to go into quarantine or schools or day-care centres have been closed for infection control reasons and you ensure this yourself. Find out more here.

Employed custodians are entitled to compensation for their loss of earnings if a child has had to go into quarantine or schools or day-care centres have been 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.

The compensation is granted for a maximum closing time of ten weeks, for single parents of 20 weeks. 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 anyway due to holidays, this rule does not apply in principle.

If you have concluded a care 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 compensation for the duration of the closure period. The employer shall be 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) is unable to make advance payments, advances in the expected amount of the reimbursement amount can be requested.

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

The following applies to employers:

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

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

You can also apply for an advance.

The following applies to self-employed persons:

You will receive the refund directly from the competent authority.

Your last annual profit is taken into account for the calculation of the loss of earnings. This is divided by twelve.

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

You can also apply for an advance.

The following applies to homeworkers:

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

Health Authorities

Since 01.01.2023, the health authorities are responsible.

For employees:

• Application (your employer submits this online for you)
• In any case, employers must attach the statements of compensation for the employees concerned.

For the self-employed:

• Application (online)
• As proof for self-employed persons, the last income tax assessment or a certificate from the commissioned tax office on the amount of the loss of earnings serves as proof.

Parents are entitled to compensation for their loss of earnings due to childcare if:

• You are taking care of your child(ren) yourself due to the closure of a childcare facility or school by public authorities and by ordering quarantine against your child
• and your child is younger than twelve years old or has a disability and needs help
• and you have a loss of earnings
• and you have custody of this child
• and you have no other reasonable care option.

Action before the Administrative Court

The compensation procedure shall be carried out by the competent authority. Employers and the self-employed submit applications, employees can only submit applications in exceptional cases.

The payment is instructed by the competent authority and is made directly to the account details provided by the applicant. The applicants will receive a notification of this.

A claim exists at the earliest from 30.03.2020.

Applications must be submitted within two years of the end of the necessary childcare.

There are no fees.