All about this insurance: Occupational disability
Do I need occupational disability insurance if I have just moved to Germany?
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When does occupational disability insurance pay out in Germany?
In short
Occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) pays if you are expected to be unable to do at least 50 percent of your last job for at least six months. A doctor has to confirm this. Around one in five claims is rejected, mostly because the 50 percent was not proven.
What it costs
What the cover that pays later costs: guide figures from published tariff examples, EUR 1,500 monthly benefit until age 67.
| Example | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Age 30, office job | around EUR 70 a month |
| Age 30, trade job | often EUR 100 or more above the office tariff |
| Range across all jobs | about EUR 20 to over 200 a month |
Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples. Your premium depends on age, job and health; we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Warehouse worker with a slipped disc
How the 50 percent is worked out.
| Lifting and carrying | 60 percent of working time, no longer possible |
| Scanning and booking | 40 percent, still possible |
| Doctor's forecast | at least six months |
60 percent and six months: the conditions are met and the BU benefit is due.
The two conditions
First the degree: you can no longer do at least 50 percent of your typical tasks. Second the duration: the condition is expected to last six months, or has already lasted that long.
Both must be met at the same time.
What the insurer checks
It asks for a typical working day with the hours spent on each task. This shows whether 50 percent is reached.
It also checks whether the health questions were answered correctly when you signed up. Wrong or missing answers, including about treatment abroad, can void the contract.
| Check | What matters |
|---|---|
| Job description | precise, with time shares |
| Medical records | diagnosis and forecast of duration |
| Health answers at the start | complete and correct |
| Referral to another job (Verweisung) | excluded in the contract or not |
Claims with an international background
The claim forms and letters are usually in German. Medical reports from abroad may need a translation, so ask the insurer early what it accepts.
If you move abroad while receiving benefits, many contracts keep paying. The insurer can still ask for regular updates or examinations, so read the rules on living abroad before you move.
If the insurer says no
Ask for the reasons in writing. Often only a medical report or a more detailed job description is missing.
The insurance ombudsman (Versicherungsombudsmann), a free arbitration body, or a lawyer specialising in insurance law can help.
Step by step
- Ask your doctor for a forecast of how long the condition will last.
- Write down your working day with time shares.
- Inform the insurer early and request the forms.
- Keep copies of all documents, with translations where needed.
- If rejected, ask for the reasons in writing.
Checklist
- Medical forecast of six months or more
- Job description with hours
- All medical reports collected, including from abroad
- Contract checked for referral clauses
- Deadlines in view
Common mistakes
- Describing the job too roughly
- Reporting too late
- Accepting a rejection without checking it
- Sending foreign reports the insurer cannot read
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does the BU pay backdated?
Usually yes, from the start of the disability, if you report in time. The deadlines are in your contract.
Does it pay for mental illness?
Yes, if a doctor confirms it. Mental illness is one of the most common causes.
What is an abstract referral?
The insurer may refer you to another job that you do not actually do. Good contracts exclude this (abstrakte Verweisung).
How long does the review take?
Often several months. Complete documents speed it up.
Sources
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Related questions
Is occupational disability insurance worth it in Germany?
Yes, for almost everyone who lives on their earnings. The state reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsren …
How much does occupational disability insurance cost in Germany?
For a monthly benefit of EUR 1,500 until age 67, a 30 year old office worker often pays around EUR 70 a month for occu …
NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated