das
Krankengeld
💰 What Exactly is das Krankengeld?
Das Krankengeld is a financial benefit in Germany, essentially a sickness benefit or sick pay provided by the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV). It serves as a wage replacement (Lohnersatzleistung) for employees who are unable to work (arbeitsunfähig) due to the same illness for longer than six weeks.
It aims to partially compensate for the loss of earnings during the period of incapacity for work. The first six weeks of illness are usually covered by the employer through continued salary payment (Lohnfortzahlung).
🚨 Important: Das Krankengeld is not the same as the Lohnfortzahlung paid by the employer!
🧐 Grammar Check: Das Krankengeld in Detail
The word „Krankengeld“ is a neuter noun. The definite article is das.
| Case | Article | Noun | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Krankengeld | The sickness benefit |
| Genitive | des | Krankengeldes / Krankengelds | Of the sickness benefit |
| Dative | dem | Krankengeld / Krankengelde | To/for the sickness benefit |
| Accusative | das | Krankengeld | The sickness benefit |
In common usage, „Krankengeld“ is almost exclusively used in the singular because it refers to the specific social security benefit. The plural (die Krankengelder) is very rare and would refer to different types of sickness benefit payments or payments to multiple people, but this is uncommon.
Example Sentences
- Nach sechs Wochen Krankheit erhält er Krankengeld von seiner Krankenkasse. (After six weeks of illness, he receives sickness benefit from his health insurance fund.)
- Die Berechnung des Krankengeldes basiert auf dem vorherigen Einkommen. (The calculation of the sickness benefit is based on previous income.)
- Sie hat einen Antrag auf Krankengeld gestellt. (She has applied for sickness benefit.)
🗓️ When and How is Krankengeld Used?
Das Krankengeld comes into play when:
- you are covered by statutory health insurance (gesetzlich krankenversichert),
- you are unable to work (arbeitsunfähig) for more than six weeks due to the same illness,
- a doctor has certified your incapacity for work (Krankschreibung).
It is paid by the health insurance fund (Krankenkasse), not the employer. The amount is typically 70% of your gross income (Bruttoeinkommen), but no more than 90% of your net income (Nettoeinkommen).
Context: You talk about Krankengeld in the context of long-term illness, social benefits, and the German statutory health insurance system (GKV).
Distinction from other terms:
- Lohnfortzahlung: Continued pay from the employer during the first 6 weeks of illness.
- Verletztengeld: A similar benefit, but paid by the statutory accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) in case of work accidents or occupational diseases.
- Arbeitslosengeld: Unemployment benefit paid by the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit).
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article: Geld (money) in German is das Geld. Since Krankengeld is a type of money, remember das Krankengeld.
For the meaning: Think: When you are krank (sick) in Germany for a long time, you need Geld (money) because you can't work. That's Krankengeld – sick money!
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Lohnersatzleistung (bei Krankheit) (Wage replacement benefit due to illness)
- Krankentagegeld (Often used synonymously, but can also refer to benefits from private insurance)
- Sickness benefit / Sick pay (English equivalents)
Antonyms (opposite concepts):
- Arbeitsentgelt / Lohn / Gehalt (Salary/Wages from work)
- Lohnfortzahlung (Continued pay by employer for the first 6 weeks)
- Gesundheit / Arbeitsfähigkeit (Health / Ability to work)
Related Terms (Beware ⚠️):
- Krankenstand: The state of being off work due to illness.
- Krankmeldung/Krankschreibung: Doctor's note certifying inability to work.
- Krankenkasse: The health insurance fund that pays the Krankengeld.
😂 A Little Joke
Arzt: „Haben Sie starke Schmerzen?“
Patient: „Nur, wenn ich an die Höhe meines Krankengeldes denke!“
Translation:
Doctor: "Are you in severe pain?"
Patient: "Only when I think about the amount of my sickness benefit!"
📜 Poem about Krankengeld
Die Arbeit ruht, das Bett ist warm,
Doch leer bleibt leider oft der Darm.
Sechs Wochen Lohn, dann ist es knapp,
Die Kasse zahlt – welch ein Glück – sachtrapp,
Ein Teil vom Lohn, nicht ganz so viel,
Das Krankengeld ist nun das Ziel.
Es hilft zu leben, Tag für Tag,
Bis man gesund ist – keine Frag‘.
Translation:
Work rests, the bed is warm,
But often, alas, the stomach stays lorn.
Six weeks of wages, then things get tight,
The insurance pays – what luck! – softly, light,
A part of the wage, not quite the whole,
The sickness benefit is now the goal.
It helps to live, day by day,
Until one's healthy – no question, hooray.
🧩 Who Am I? A Riddle
Ich bin kein Lohn, doch helfe sehr,
Wenn Krankheit plagt und der Beutel leer.
Nach Wochen sechs spring’ ich gern ein,
Die Kasse zahlt mich, mal groß, mal klein.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I am not a wage, but help a lot,
When illness strikes and the purse has naught.
After six weeks, I gladly step in,
The insurance pays me, sometimes thick, sometimes thin.
What am I?
Solution: Das Krankengeld (The sickness benefit)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition: The word „Krankengeld“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Kranken- (Stem of „krank“, meaning sick or ill)
- Geld (meaning money)
Legal Basis: The entitlement to Krankengeld in Germany is primarily regulated in the Fifth Book of the Social Security Code (Fünftes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch – SGB V).
Trivia: Self-employed individuals (Selbstständige) in Germany are not automatically entitled to statutory Krankengeld, but they can opt-in by paying an additional contribution or take out private daily sickness allowance insurance (private Krankentagegeldversicherung).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Krankengeld?
The correct article for Krankengeld is das: das Krankengeld. It is a neuter noun and typically used in the singular.