In a dual study programme, you often work under a training or employment contract while you study. That is why many people ask: what does the employer pay for disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) during a dual study programme, and what remains your responsibility? The answer is shorter than many expect. The law does not require you to take out disability insurance. Everything beyond the legal minimum is voluntary.
Short answer: In a paid dual study programme, the employer pays your salary and, when you are sick, statutory continued pay during sickness. Disability insurance is not required by law. Whether the employer contributes premiums, for example through group disability insurance or the company pension scheme (betriebliche Altersversorgung, bAV), is set by your contract or the scheme’s terms. Stand: October 2026.
Key Points at a Glance
- Statutory continued pay during sickness applies to employees for up to six weeks (§ 3 EFZG). However, it does not replace disability insurance, because it is limited in time.
- Disability insurance is not required by law, including for students on a dual study programme.
- Voluntary contributions are possible, for example through group disability insurance or as a component of the company pension scheme.
- Whether you are insured as an employee or as a student depends on your contract and affects your cover.
- Before you sign, it is worth reviewing your employment contract, the group arrangement and the terms of the policy.
What Protection Does the Employer Already Provide?
In a dual study programme with a training allowance, you are usually an employee. This gives you statutory entitlements that apply in the event of sickness. Under the Continued Remuneration Act (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz), continued pay during sickness lasts up to six weeks, provided you are not at fault (§ 3 (1) EFZG). After that, your health insurer’s statutory sick pay (Krankengeld) can usually apply. These benefits only protect you temporarily, however, and do not cover permanent occupational disability.
The following overview shows what the employer typically provides and where voluntary offers begin.
| Benefit | Required by law? | Typical form |
|---|---|---|
| Training or study allowance | Yes, under the employment or training contract | Monthly salary |
| Continued pay during sickness | Yes, up to six weeks (§ 3 EFZG) | Salary continues to be paid |
| Disability insurance | No | Voluntary, as an individual or group contract |
| Premium contribution towards disability insurance | No | Voluntary, individually or under a company arrangement |
| Disability insurance as part of the company pension scheme | No | Voluntary, usually through salary sacrifice (Entgeltumwandlung) |
How Does Group Disability Insurance Work in the Workplace?
Some companies take out group insurance for their workforce. The group is often formed by occupational group or length of service, and the employer pays some or all of the premium. Whether you fall within the group, whether you can leave the scheme, and what happens if you change employer are set out in the group conditions.
The advantage lies in the price and often in simplified health questions. The disadvantage is that the insurance may be tied to your employment. When your training ends or you change employer, the cover may lapse or need to be applied for again. For this reason, check whether you can continue the contract after you leave.
What Happens When the Employment Contract Ends?
The transition after your studies is the point at which many forms of cover are lost without planning. When the contract with your employer ends, a group insurance policy does not necessarily continue. Some group contracts allow you to continue as an individual policyholder, others do not. Whether you can keep the cover is set out in the group conditions, and you should know this rule before your studies begin.
An individual policy that you have taken out yourself, by contrast, continues regardless of who you work for. However, it is priced according to your current age and state of health. Anyone who takes out disability insurance only after their studies usually pays more than during their training. Many policies therefore offer a post-disability guarantee (Nachversicherungsgarantie), which lets you increase your cover later without a new health check. Whether and to what extent this applies is again determined by the policy terms.
In practice, this means noting until when your group cover applies, and clarifying during your final year of training whether you need an individual policy. Do not leave the switch until you already have an illness, because a new application may then come with exclusions or surcharges. Ask for the rule on the end of the contract to be confirmed to you in writing.
What About the Company Pension Scheme?
Through the company pension scheme (bAV), disability insurance can be financed if your employer offers it. In this case, you convert part of your salary into contributions, and these contributions are tax-free up to a limit. Under § 3 No. 63 of the Income Tax Act (EStG), this limit is 8 percent of the contribution assessment ceiling of the statutory pension insurance. For 2026, that equals 8,112 euros per year, based on a contribution assessment ceiling of 8,450 euros per month.
A worked example shows the logic. Assumption: the disability insurance costs 60 euros per month, and your employer pays 30 euros of that. You then pay 30 euros. Whether the contribution is free of tax and social security contributions depends on how the arrangement is structured. This can only be clarified with your employer and with tax advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must my employer pay for disability insurance?
No, there is no legal obligation to do so. A commitment can arise from your employment contract, a works agreement or a collective agreement. If none of these exists, the decision remains with you.
Does continued pay during sickness replace my disability insurance?
No. Continued pay is limited to six weeks and applies only during sickness. Disability insurance, by contrast, pays a pension in the event of permanent occupational disability, regardless of whether you have an employer.
Does my disability insurance continue if I change jobs?
For an individual policy, yes. For group insurance, it depends on the group contract. Before you change jobs, check whether the contract is transferable and whether you can continue the cover privately.
Am I insured in a dual study programme in the same way as a trainee?
That depends on whether you are in a paid employment relationship or are treated mainly as a student. In the first case, the rules for employees apply, and in the second, the rules for students. Your employer and your health insurer will clarify this with you.
When is it worth taking out a policy during studies?
Taking out a policy early can be cheaper, because premiums depend on your age and state of health. What matters is that your cover does not depend on your employer if you need it over the long term. For this reason, compare a group policy with an individual one.
How to Proceed Now
- Read your training or employment contract and check whether a group disability policy or a contribution towards it is mentioned.
- Ask your HR department whether there is a company arrangement or a company pension offer, and ask for the terms in writing.
- Compare the group policy with an individual policy, particularly in case of a change of job or the end of your training.
- Clarify your health insurance with your health insurer before you sign any contract.
Related Articles
- Disability insurance during a dual study programme: costs and classification
- Disability insurance through the employer (bAV) when starting your career
- Dual Study and Health Insurance: What Applies
- Disability Insurance for Students: Costs and Start
- Disability insurance health questions during studies: psychotherapy, allergies, sport
Sources: § 3 EFZG, continued pay during sickness · § 3 No. 63 EStG, tax-free contributions to the company pension scheme · § 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (each accessed October 2026)
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
