Which insurance do working students in Germany need?
In short
Which insurance working students in Germany need: in a job of up to 20 hours a week during term you only pay pension contributions and have statutory accident cover at work. Health insurance comes from family insurance or student insurance at around 145 to 152 euros a month. Privately, personal liability from about 3 euros a month and disability insurance while young and healthy matter most.
Student health and long term care insurance, childless from 23
around 145 to 152 euros a month
Family insurance through parents
0 euros, up to 25 while in education
Own personal liability for students
from about 3 euros a month
Disability insurance, age 20, 1,500 euros a month, by subject
about 48 to 83 euros a month
As of October 2026; working student rules from the Minijob-Zentrale and the law,
conditions from the GDV model conditions.
That compulsory contributions during studies often do not suffice for the reduced earning capacity
pension is a guide value from our quoting practice and depends on your contribution months.
Worked example
Working student, 24, 18 hours a week, 1,100 euros a month
Her income is above the family insurance limit, so she needs student health insurance.
Student health and long term care insurance
around 145 to 152 euros a month
Pension contribution from the job
deducted from pay, no separate policy
Personal liability via parents during first education
0 euros
Disability insurance with increase guarantee
about 50 to 85 euros a month
Only health insurance is compulsory. Disability insurance is the most important voluntary decision, because it gets more expensive every year.
What working students have by law
A working student (Werkstudent) is enrolled at a university or technical college and works no more than 20 hours a week during lecture periods. From this job, working students are exempt from health and unemployment insurance and not compulsorily insured in long term care insurance. The hour limit does not apply in the semester break.
Working students are, however, compulsorily insured in pension insurance and, unlike mini jobbers, cannot opt out. You share the contributions with your employer, and the time counts towards the pension waiting period. At work and on the way there you have statutory accident cover.
Branch
Working students in the job
What you arrange yourself
Health insurance
exempt
family insurance or student insurance
Long term care insurance
not compulsory
runs with your health insurance
Unemployment insurance
exempt, no unemployment benefit
nothing
Pension insurance
compulsory, half contribution
nothing
Accident insurance
statutory at work
accidents in free time
Health insurance alongside the job
Because a working student job does not create health insurance, you stay insured as before: through your parents up to 25 if your income stays below one seventh of the reference amount (Bezugsgröße), otherwise in student health insurance. A well paid working student job quickly ends family insurance.
Student health and long term care insurance costs around 145 to 152 euros a month for childless students from 23. Count that before taking on more hours, because it can eat up the extra net pay.
Liability for working students
Under the model conditions, adult children are covered by their parents’ personal liability while in school or a first vocational education that follows directly, including university. Working students who already finished a training course often fall out.
Damage working students cause on the job is not covered by personal liability, it is a work risk. As employees you are liable to the employer only to a limited extent. Your own policy costs students from about 3 euros a month.
Take out disability insurance early
The statutory reduced earning capacity pension requires three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years. Working students collect such periods, but often not enough, and the pension would be very low anyway. Private disability insurance during your studies protects your future career on good terms.
You are rated by subject. At 20, a pension of 1,500 euros costs about 48 to 83 euros a month depending on the subject. Look for a guarantee to increase cover later without new health questions.
What working students usually do not need
No working student needs daily sickness benefit insurance, the employer keeps paying for up to six weeks. Professional liability is the employer’s matter for employed working students. If you freelance on the side, see our separate pages on business types.
Step by step
Have your health insurer confirm your working student status.
Check whether your income ends family insurance.
Ask your parents whether their liability policy still covers you.
Take out disability insurance with an increase guarantee.
Checklist
No more than 20 hours a week during lecture periods
Health insurance sorted
Liability through parents or your own policy
Disability insurance rated by subject
Increase guarantee in the policy
Common mistakes
Working more than 20 hours during term and losing the status
Staying in family insurance although income is too high
Putting off disability insurance until after graduation
Buying professional liability for an employed job
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Am I health insured as a working student?
Not through the job.
You stay family insured or pay into student health insurance.
Do working students pay pension contributions?
Yes, you are compulsorily insured and cannot opt out.
Am I covered for accidents as a working student?
Yes, at work and on the way there through statutory accident insurance.
Can I work more during the semester break?
Yes, the 20 hour limit does not apply outside lecture periods.
Is disability insurance worth it as a working student?
Usually yes.
Young and healthy, the premium is low, and with an increase guarantee the pension can grow later.
