ROUTE

Caring for a relative and working

Ten emergency days without employer consent, leave of up to six and twenty-four months, an interest-free loan and insurance.

✓ Checked: 01/08/2026

When a relative suddenly needs care, work is the first thing that collides with the situation. German law answers this with entitlements rather than employer goodwill: in an acute situation you may stay away from work for up to ten working days, and for longer-term care there is leave and reduced working time.

1

STEP

Emergency: up to ten days immediately

When something happens to a relative suddenly, the law gives you the right to stay away from work for up to ten working days. No employer permission is required.
2

STEP

Longer care: leave of up to six and up to twenty-four months

For longer-term care the law provides full leave for up to six months and reduced hours for up to twenty-four. The notice periods are strict.
3

STEP

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.

› More about this route

This three-step route covers those instruments in order: the ten emergency days requiring only notification, longer leave of up to six or twenty-four months with strict notice periods, and the financial side with an interest-free loan, health insurance and pension contributions.

The caveat that most often derails plans: the right to longer leave depends on the size of the business, and exceptions apply to small employers. Establish the headcount before the family conversation rather than after it.

WHERE PEOPLE MOST OFTEN LOSE MONEY AND TIME

Asking permission for the ten emergency days. This is a right, not a request: the employer is informed rather than persuaded, and a refusal carries no legal weight.
Announcing longer leave verbally and at the last minute. Notification must be in writing and within the deadline, otherwise the start is pushed back.
Not checking the size of the business. It decides whether the right to longer leave exists at all, and learning that after the family conversation is painful.
Not applying for the interest-free loan in time. It is paid monthly, and retrospectively the full period can no longer be covered.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ROUTE

Do I need my employer’s consent for the ten emergency days?▾

No. The law grants the right to stay away for up to ten working days where care must be organised in an acute situation. The employer is informed immediately and told the expected duration, but does not have to agree.

Is caring time paid?▾

The emergency days are covered by a separate care insurance benefit; longer leave is not remunerated by the employer — instead an interest-free federal loan exists, paid monthly and repaid once the period ends.

What happens to health insurance and pension?▾

Cover remains, though its form depends on your circumstances: family insurance, contributions from care insurance, or voluntary insurance. Where care reaches a certain extent, care insurance also pays pension contributions for the carer.

WHAT USUALLY COMES NEXT

WorkPersonal step-by-step checklist for starting work in Germany: Steuer-ID, Krankenkasse, Sozialversicherung and Steuerklasse. Adapts to your situation — employee or self-employed.Switching Health Insurance FundHundreds of euros a year for one application: when switching pays, the special termination right after increases, and the procedure where the new fund does everything.Power of Attorney and Living WillAfter an accident or stroke your spouse does NOT automatically represent you — a court appoints a guardian. Three free documents settle this in advance.Pflegegrad: Care LevelIf a relative needs care, insurance pays 347 to 990 € per month in cash — including to the caring family member. How to get a Pflegegrad and pass the assessment.