The financial side is the most common reason longer leave never happens — usually without knowledge of the support available. The employer pays no salary, but an interest-free loan exists, and health and pension cover are dealt with separately and in your favour.
Money and insurance while caring
Full leave is not paid by the employer, but an interest-free state loan exists. Health insurance and pension contributions need settling separately.
✓ Verified: 01/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I learned about the interest-free loan by chance in my third month without pay. It belongs applied for beforehand — retrospectively it did not cover the whole period.
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Lea recommends:
Call the care fund and ask three things at once: the loan, health insurance, pension contributions. One call settles the entire financial side.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is salary paid during longer leave? ▾
No, full leave on this ground is not remunerated by the employer. To make the income gap bearable there is an interest-free federal loan, paid monthly and repaid later.
How does the loan work? ▾
It covers part of the lost income, is paid monthly, and is repaid once the caring period ends. The application goes to the relevant federal office rather than to your employer, and belongs before the leave begins.
What happens to my health insurance? ▾
Cover does not lapse, but its form depends on your situation: sometimes family insurance applies, sometimes care insurance covers contributions, sometimes voluntary insurance is needed. Settle this beforehand, not in the first month without pay.
Do pension contributions continue? ▾
Where care is provided to a certain extent, the care insurance pays pension contributions for the carer. The conditions depend on the care level and the hours involved, so ask the care fund of the person being cared for.