Disability equals incapacity for work
While occupational disability (BU) and incapacity for work (AU) are colloquially used synonymously, the two terms describe completely different situations. Persons who are unable to work are temporarily unable to perform their professional duties. It is crucial that the inability to work describes a temporary condition and implies the prospect of improvement and a return to work. For example, in the event of a viral infection or a broken bone, a doctor will temporarily put you on sick leave, which is accompanied by a certificate of incapacity for work.
The situation of occupational disability, on the other hand, describes a permanent state. Unable to work is defined as a person who is unlikely to be able to pursue their last job in the long term, for example due to a chronic illness. A medical report then decides whether a person is unable to work.
Disability insurance pays pension if the worst comes to the worst
If an occupational disability is certified and occupational disability insurance is available, the insured person will pay a pension if those affected have lost at least half of their ability to pay. Persons without disability insurance are only entitled to a disability pension.
In the event of a temporary inability to work, coverage is provided by the health insurance company and the employer. Employees with statutory insurance receive their normal salary from their employer for six weeks in the event of illness. If the inability to work lasts longer, the health insurance company pays sickness benefit, which amounts to a maximum of 70 percent of the gross salary and does not exceed the maximum amount of 112.88 euros per calendar day. The entitlement to sick pay is limited to a period of 78 weeks within three years and is reduced by the six-week period of continued wage payments by the employer. Persons with private health insurance are not entitled to statutory sick pay in the event of a longer period of incapacity to work and should consider taking out private daily sickness benefit insurance.
Disability insurance with AU clause
People who want additional insurance against incapacity to work have the option of adding a so-called AU clause to their disability insurance. Thanks to such an AU clause, insured persons receive benefits from the occupational disability insurance, even if there is no permanent occupational disability. Disability insurance with an AU clause pays retrospectively in the event of an inability to work for at least four months in order to close the income gap between the end of the continued payment of wages by the employer and the resumption of employment.
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