As of: February 28, 2024, 12:30 p.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Unable to work does not mean unfit for work.
Where the differences lie – and what you definitely need to pay attention to.
Unfortunately, it can happen very quickly.
An accident, an unforeseeable physical or mental problem or a serious illness - there are many reasons why you can no longer do your job from one day to the next.
There is a widespread misconception that incapacity to work and occupational disability represent the same situation.
But there are big differences in how you should proceed in these two cases.
incapacity for work
The most important word when it comes to incapacity to work is “temporary”.
Incapacity to work occurs when a person is temporarily no longer able to do their job.
Important: “The doctor must certify the inability to work, i.e. write the person concerned sick,” explains
Finanz.net
.
Health insurance pays for 78 weeks if you are unable to work
It can happen very quickly: after an accident, many people become unable to work or become unemployed.
© Marco Blanco Ucles/DALL-E (AI generated)
Even if there is a more serious illness or injury, people who are unable to work only have to make small financial compromises.
And only if you are out of action for more than six weeks.
The employer continues to pay the full salary for the first six weeks.
After that, for people with statutory health insurance, the health insurance company takes over - some of whose reimbursements are taxable - and usually transfers 70 percent of the patient's last gross salary.
According to WirtschaftsWoche,
this applies
for up to 78 weeks within three years.
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Occupational disability
In contrast to people who are unable to work, it is assumed that people who are unable to work are no longer able to carry out their job as it was without any health impairments.
Of course, this must also be verified by medical professionals.
People who have taken out recommended occupational disability insurance can rely on financial support in such a case.
With profitable contracts, customers receive money if the occupational disability is expected to last longer than six months.
This is enough for providers to assume that no improvement in health is expected in the foreseeable future.
However, according to Finanz.net: “The insurance company can check at regular intervals whether the customer is still unable to work.
If, contrary to expectations, he gets significantly better, the occupational disability insurance can stop payments.
But insured people don’t have to pay anything back.”