Most people who aim for a teaching career become civil servants (Beamte). That raises the question of inability to serve (Dienstunfähigkeit) in teaching: what happens if you can no longer carry out your duties in school for health reasons, and how do the rules differ between North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg? This guide gives an overview of the basics and the differences between the three states.
Short answer: Inability to serve is governed by civil service law, not by an insurance contract. The federal government sets the framework in § 26 of the Federal Civil Service Status Act (Beamtenstatusgesetz, BeamtStG), and the states flesh it out in their own state civil service acts (Landesbeamtengesetze). Trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge) differs from state to state. Stand: October 2026.
Key Points at a Glance
- Inability to serve is a term of civil service law. It differs from occupational disability (Berufsunfähigkeit) under insurance law.
- Under § 26 (1) BeamtStG, civil servants for life are retired when they are permanently unable to serve.
- The state civil service acts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg differ in details, for example in procedures and deadlines.
- Trainee pay for pay grade A 13 is close together in the three states, at roughly 1,786 to 1,795 euros per month.
- For inability to serve insurance, civil servant status, the gap in provision and your state of health are the decisive factors.
What Does Civil Service Law Say About Inability to Serve?
Inability to serve describes a situation in which you can no longer permanently fulfil your official duties. The Federal Civil Service Status Act sets out the basic principle in § 26 (1): civil servants for life must be retired if they are permanently unable to serve. Inability to serve can also arise after a long illness, if within six months you have performed no duties for more than three months and no recovery is foreseeable. Anyone who can be deployed elsewhere is not retired.
These rules form the federal framework. The states have their own civil service acts, and these shape everyday practice: who decides which procedure applies, how the public health doctor (Amtsarzt) is involved, and how pension entitlements (Versorgung) are calculated. Pension entitlements are governed by civil service pension law, which is also partly state law. There is therefore no universal answer to how high the pension will be in an individual case.
How Do the Three States Differ in Trainee Pay and Health Allowance?
During the trainee period and in the first years after appointment as a civil servant, your income determines the level of protection you can afford. The following overview shows trainee pay for pay grade A 13 and the usual state health allowance (Beihilfe) rate. The amounts come from pay tables published by the dbb trade union federation. According to their source, they are subject to publication in the relevant official gazette.
| State | Relevant state law | Trainee pay A 13 | Health allowance for trainees (usual rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Rhine-Westphalia | State Civil Service Act NRW (Landesbeamtengesetz NRW) | 1,793.28 euros (as of 1 April 2026) | 50 percent |
| Bavaria | Bavarian Civil Service Act (Bayerisches Beamtengesetz) | 1,795.21 euros (applies from 1 October 2026) | 50 percent |
| Baden-Württemberg | State Civil Service Act Baden-Württemberg (Landesbeamtengesetz Baden-Württemberg) | 1,786.46 euros (as of 1 April 2026) | 50 percent |
The figures show that trainee pay in the three states is close together. What matters more for your protection is often not the amount itself, but how it develops until you become a civil servant for life, and which health allowance applies later.
What Applies in North Rhine-Westphalia?
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the State Civil Service Act (Landesbeamtengesetz) applies. For teachers, the state is announcing an adjustment from 1 August 2026, because primary and lower secondary education are moving to pay grade A 13. The adjustment is documented by the State Office for Pay and Pensions (Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung). Pay table values for primary school teachers may therefore differ from the general figures, and you should check the current position directly with the state office.
What Applies in Bavaria?
In Bavaria, the Bavarian Civil Service Act sets out the basic rules of the civil servant relationship. According to the pay table, the trainee amount given there applies only from 1 October 2026 and is lower before that date. If you are in the trainee period in Bavaria, keep the effective date for your own pay statement in mind before you set an insured sum.
What Applies in Baden-Württemberg?
In Baden-Württemberg, the State Civil Service Act Baden-Württemberg applies. According to the dbb table, the trainee amount for A 13 is 1,786.46 euros and has been valid since 1 April 2026. The same reservation applies here, the amounts are subject to official publication, so you should use your current pay notice for any concrete calculation.
What Role Does the Health Allowance Play?
Civil servants do not receive full reimbursement of medical costs when they are ill. Instead, they receive a health allowance (Beihilfe) that covers part of the costs. As a rule, the allowance rate for trainees is 50 percent. The exact details are set out in the respective state health allowance ordinance (Landesbeihilfeverordnung). Some states also offer a flat-rate health allowance for trainees, where access and choice must be clearly regulated. Check with your pay office whether this is available in your state.
For your protection, this means that the health allowance complements your health insurance, but it does not replace income protection. If inability to serve occurs, your salary falls away, and the pension is usually lower than your active income.
When Is Inability to Serve Insurance Needed?
An inability to serve insurance closes the gap between your salary and the state pension. Whether it makes sense depends on how large that gap is in your case. Taking out a policy early is often cheaper, but it requires a health check. Pre-existing conditions can lead to exclusions or surcharges, and in some cases taking out a policy is therefore not worthwhile.
You get an honest view of your situation if you first compare your pension position and then the premiums. At Academycon, you can arrange a personal consultation for this: How we work (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is inability to serve the same as occupational disability?
No. Inability to serve is a term of civil service law and is defined by the service relationship. Occupational disability is governed by the Insurance Contract Act (VVG), and there the focus is on the occupation you last practised.
Do the same rules apply in every state?
The basic principles follow the federal framework, but the state laws differ in detail. Procedures, responsibilities and deadlines can vary, so you should read the state law that applies to you.
What is my income as a trainee?
That depends on your pay grade, your step and your family situation. The tables show the basic amount, and supplements are added on top. For an exact figure, you need your pay notice.
Will the state pay enough if I am retired due to inability to serve?
Not necessarily. Your pension depends on length of service, pay and state law. Whether it covers your previous standard of living cannot be answered in general terms, and this is exactly where an inability to serve insurance comes in.
Do I have to inform the insurer when I become a civil servant?
Check whether your policy requires you to report your appointment as a civil servant as a change or as information. Many contracts do. Keep notifications in writing so that you can prove when you made them.
How to Proceed Now
- Determine which state law applies to you and read the rules on inability to serve in it.
- Get your current pay notice or pay information before you compare figures.
- Clarify the health allowance rate and whether a flat-rate health allowance is available, with your pay office.
- Compare the pension gap with the offers and have the terms confirmed to you in writing.
Related Articles
- Teacher Disability Insurance: Occupational vs. Inability to Serve
- Teacher trainee period in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026/27: trainee pay, health allowance and health insurance
- Teacher trainee period in Bavaria 2026/27: trainee pay, health allowance and health insurance
- Teacher trainee period in Baden-Württemberg 2026/27: trainee pay, health allowance and health insurance
- State health allowance in North Rhine-Westphalia: rates, own share and suitable PKV for civil servants
Sources: § 26 BeamtStG, inability to serve · State Office for Pay and Pensions NRW, adjustment of teacher pay from 1 August 2026 · dbb pay table NRW, status April 2026 (secondary source, subject to official publication) (accessed October 2026)
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
