If the daycare centres and schools have to close due to Corona pandemic, children stay home the whole day. So working parents have to find someone to take care of their children during worktime. In 2021, working parents who have to stay home to care for children due to corona-related school and Kindergarten closures are entitled to 10 days of paid leave- and single parents are entitled to 20 days. That means you will receive wages for these days and the government will reimburse the employer.
In case these 10 (or 20) days do not suffice: Parents who are unable to work because they have to provide full-time care to their children due to closure of schools and daycare centres and have little to no income will be compensated. The compensation amounts to 67% of your net wages (maximum 2,016 euro) and is paid for a maximum of ten weeks.
Important: Each parent can receive compensation for up to 10 weeks. Single parents are entitled to receive compensation for up to 20 weeks.
You can only receive the mentioned compensation if you meet the following requirements:
- Your child is under the age of 12 or needs care because of a disability.
- There is no one else available in your household to look after your child.
- You have already balanced your overtime and do not have any paid vacation left.
The employer applies for compensation on behalf of the employees. The self-employed must contact the Health Office responsible. You can find the proper Health Office at Behördenwegweiser.
Please note: There are emergency childcare services for children whose parents work in certain professions (e.g. police, fire brigade, hospital staff, energy supply, etc.). If you have a job like this, ask your child's school/ daycare centre or the responsible Schooling authorities ("Schulamt") about the regulations which apply to you, since there are no uniform regulations in this regard throughout Germany.