Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act due to (child) care requirements
You can receive compensation if you are unable to work due to the care of your children as a result of the closure of schools, childcare facilities or a lockdown/quarantine ordered for the child and have therefore suffered a loss of earnings (Section 56 (1a) IfSG).
The entitlement was limited until 23/09/2022 for measures in connection with COVID-19.
Applications must be submitted within two years of the end of the closure of the school/care facility or the end of isolation/quarantine. It is therefore no longer possible to submit applications for measures in connection with COVID-19.
Payment and application to the competent authority is made by the employer in the case of employees. Self-employed persons submit their application to the competent authority themselves.
Amount of compensation:
The compensation amounts to 67 per cent of net income and is granted for up to ten weeks in the case of non-single parents and up to 20 weeks in the case of single parents. It is limited to a maximum monthly amount of EUR 2,016.
Responsible authority
The Youth and Health Office of the City of Mannheim is the central authority responsible for the whole of Baden-Württemberg.
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- Your child cannot attend their childcare centre or school due to an officially ordered closure or segregation.
- Your child is under twelve years old or your child has a disability and is dependent on assistance.
- You have a loss of earnings.
- You have no other reasonable childcare options.
You cannot receive compensation:
- for the period of your own sick leave or sick note.
- if you are receiving child sickness benefit in accordance with SGB V for the relevant period.
- for trainees who are prevented through no fault of their own from fulfilling their obligations arising from the vocational training relationship (pursuant to Section 19 (1) (2) (b) BBiG).
- in the absence of a collective agreement provision: for a relatively insignificant period of inactivity (pursuant to Section 616 BGB).
- in the case of contractual or collectively agreed obligations of the employer to continue to pay wages.
Procedure
Until 30 April 2025, applications could only be submitted online at www.ifsg-online.de. Since 1 May 2025, the responsible Youth and Health Office of the City of Mannheim has provided application forms on its homepage. Here you will also find further helpful information.
Please note: Applications can only be submitted retrospectively.
The procedure varies depending on your employment status:
- For employees:
Employees are paid the compensation for the entire period by their employers.
- For employers:
Employers can subsequently apply for reimbursement of the compensation paid to employees. They can submit applications for several employees together.
- For self-employed persons:
Self-employed persons can submit the application themselves.
You will receive a decision after the authority has reviewed your claim. The compensation payment is made by the Landesoberkasse BW and is paid directly to the account details provided by the applicant.
Deadlines
Applications in accordance with Section 56 (1a) IfSG (in the event of the closure of schools and childcare facilities) must be submitted within two years of the end of the closure or prohibition of entry to the facility or the end of the segregation of the child.
Required documents
Employer
- Pay slips for the two months prior to the loss of earnings per employee
- Proof of wages for the months for which reimbursement is claimed per employee
- Proof of paid or unpaid allowances
- Sickness certificates/certificates of incapacity for work in the event of sick leave
- If applicable, extract from the collective agreement on continued payment of remuneration in the event of incapacity for work
- If available: Proof of officially ordered isolation/quarantine for the child to be cared for. If certificates of isolation are no longer issued, please have the corresponding positive PCR or rapid test certificate justifying the isolation of the child ready as proof.
Self-employed persons
- Proof of income (tax assessment notice) for the previous year
- If available: Proof of loss of income during the period of closure of schools or childcare facilities (e.g. daycare centres) or for people with a disability
- Proof of insurance benefits received, if applicable
- Sickness certificates/certificates of incapacity for work in the event of sick leave
- If available: Proof of officially ordered isolation/quarantine for the child to be cared for. If certificates of isolation are no longer issued, please have the corresponding positive PCR or rapid test certificate justifying the isolation of the child ready as proof.
Authorised representative
- If the application is made on behalf of a company or a self-employed person (e.g. as a tax consultant), please submit a power of attorney.
Costs
Costs and fees may be incurred as part of an objection procedure. The objection procedure has been temporarily abolished until 31 December 2025 by the Act amending the Act on the Implementation of the Administrative Court Code and other regulations.
Processing time
The processing time varies from case to case depending on the volume of applications and the completeness of the documents and evidence.
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG):
- § 31 Berufliches Tätigkeitsverbot
- § 30 Absonderung
- §§ 56 ff. Entschädigung
Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG):
- § 19 Absatz 1 Ziffer 2 Buchstabe b Fortzahlung der Vergütung
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB):
- § 616 Vorübergehende Verhinderung
Verordnung über die Zuständigkeiten nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG ZustV):
- § 1 Absatz 3a
Gesetz zur Ausführung der Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (AGVwGO):
- § 15 Ausschluss des Vorverfahrens Absatz 6
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 12.06.2025