Income protection for your ability to work means securing your income even if illness or an accident prevents you from practising your profession. For career starters, the salary is usually the most important source of income, so it pays to look at protection early. This overview explains the key terms, the benefit thresholds and the articles in our topic group on occupational disability and income protection. The linked articles are currently available in German only.
Short answer: The central protection for your ability to work is occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU). Under section 172 (2) of the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG), you are occupationally disabled if you can no longer carry out your last exercised profession, wholly or partly and probably permanently, due to illness, bodily injury or age-untypical loss of strength (last updated: November 2026). Statutory reduced earning capacity pensions under section 43 SGB VI use different thresholds.
Key points
- Under section 172 VVG, occupational disability is measured against the profession you last practised, not against a diagnosis alone.
- The insurer may additionally require in the contract that you also cannot carry out any other activity that matches your training (section 172 (3) VVG).
- The statutory reduced earning capacity pension depends on how many hours a day you can work: fewer than six hours for partial, fewer than three hours for full reduced earning capacity (section 43 SGB VI).
- Health questions, the premium and the benefit description determine whether and on what terms you receive cover.
- Self-employed people and freelancers have their own questions, for example about waiting periods for sick-pay daily allowances and about income gaps.
- If you are unsure which protection takes priority, a personal consultation can help.
What does occupational disability mean legally?
The law refers to your profession, not to a diagnosis. The benchmark is the profession you last practised, in the form it had without the health impairment. For the assessment, what you actually do at work matters, not only which condition you have.
The statutory reduced earning capacity pension follows a different logic. It asks how many hours you can work under usual labour market conditions. The table compares both systems.
| Feature | Statutory reduced earning capacity pension (section 43 SGB VI) | Occupational disability insurance (section 172 VVG) |
|---|---|---|
| Reference point | Work under usual labour market conditions | Last profession practised, and by contract possibly another suitable activity |
| Partial | Not at least six hours a day | Wholly or partly disabled, depending on the contract |
| Full | Not at least three hours a day | Under the contract terms |
| Requirement | Three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years and general waiting period | The policy must already be in force when disability occurs |
| Basis | Statute | Private contract |
Last updated: November 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this guide.
When does occupational disability insurance make sense, and when less so?
Occupational disability insurance is not the right choice in every situation. The comparison shows when it tends to fit and when other solutions should be checked first.
| Tends to fit when | Tends to fit less when |
|---|---|
| Your income depends heavily on your ability to work | You can bridge an income shortfall for a long time from savings |
| You have no other cover for that loss | Existing contracts already cover the loss and you are checking them first |
| You want to secure cover before your health questions change | The premium is not affordable right now and other expenses come first |
Which solution suits your situation is best clarified in a personal consultation. The page So arbeiten wir (in German) describes how Academycon approaches this.
Which health questions matter for occupational disability insurance?
With pre-existing conditions, the insurer examines the application more closely. How a specific condition is assessed depends on the individual case and the tariff. The articles below cover individual conditions and offers without health questions.
- BU mit Angststörung: Ist ein Abschluss trotzdem möglich?
- BU mit Bandscheibenvorfall: Was der Versicherer beim Antrag prüft (in German)
- BU als Raucher: Wie der Tabakkonsum Antrag und Beitrag beeinflusst (in German)
- BU bei Übergewicht: Wann BMI und Gewicht den Antrag beeinflussen (in German)
- BU nach Krebs: Ist ein Antrag nach der Erkrankung möglich? (in German)
- BU mit Rheuma oder Autoimmunerkrankung: Gibt es eine Chance? (in German)
- BU mit Migräne: Antrag, Prüfung und mögliche Zuschläge (in German)
- Burnout und Berufsunfähigkeit: Absicherung für Berufseinsteiger
- BU ohne Gesundheitsfragen: Was hinter dem Angebot steckt
What changes when a claim is made or disputed?
When a claim is made, documents, deadlines and medical reports matter. If you want to pursue a rejection further, there are different routes, such as arbitration. The articles in this section explain the individual steps.
- BU-Leistungsantrag stellen: Unterlagen, Fristen und ärztliche Gutachten
- Teilweise Berufsunfähigkeit: Wann die Versicherung einen Teil zahlt
- BU-Beitragsbefreiung im Leistungsfall: Was mit dem Beitrag passiert (in German)
- BU-Nachprüfung: Was passiert, wenn es dir wieder besser geht? (in German)
- BU abgelehnt: Was du jetzt tun kannst, bevor du aufgibst
- Versicherungsombudsmann bei BU-Streit: Wann die Schlichtung hilft
- BU bei Berufswechsel: Bleibt der Schutz nach einem Jobwechsel?
What applies to self-employed people and freelancers?
Self-employed people face different questions than employees, for example about waiting periods for sick-pay daily allowances and about income gaps after a longer illness. The articles show where the differences lie.
- BU für Selbstständige und Freelancer: Was anders ist
- Krankentagegeld Wartezeit: Was Freelancer wissen müssen
- Krankengeld nach 78 Wochen: Wann die Einkommenslücke entsteht
How do occupational disability cover, care cover and sick pay fit together?
Occupational disability cover, care cover and sick pay protect against different risks. The order depends on your situation. The tax treatment of contributions also belongs in the overall plan.
- BU oder Pflegezusatz: Welche Absicherung kommt zuerst?
- BU-Beiträge steuerlich absetzen: Was das Finanzamt anerkennt
Frequently asked questions
When does occupational disability insurance apply?
The policy pays when occupational disability occurs after the policy starts (section 172 (1) VVG). Anyone who was already disabled before that is not automatically covered by a new contract. The policy terms settle the details.
Is the statutory reduced earning capacity pension enough?
It sets a different threshold. You are partly reduced in earning capacity if you cannot work at least six hours a day (section 43 (1) SGB VI). The compulsory contribution requirements must also be met. Whether that covers your needs depends on your situation.
Do I have to state my profession precisely in the application?
Yes, the profession is the reference point for any later assessment. Information should be complete and accurate, because discrepancies in the application can cause problems later.
Does occupational disability cover still apply after a career change?
The protection refers to the profession last practised, so a change can alter the assessment. The article on career changes explains how this works in individual cases.
What can I do if the application is rejected?
First check the reasons given and keep to any deadlines. Missing documents can often be submitted later. In a dispute, arbitration can help, as the article on the insurance ombudsman explains.
What to do next
- Work out how long your income would need to last without being able to work, and which savings you have.
- Check which cover you already have, for example through your employer or existing contracts.
- Compare the benefit descriptions and conditions, not only the premium.
- Have health questions explained to you calmly before you submit an application.
- Keep records on health and work in case you later need to make a claim.
Related articles
- Career Start After University: Your Guide to the First Job
- Disability Insurance for Students: Costs and Start
- Health insurance at career start (in German)
Sources:
- Section 172 VVG (Insurance Contract Act), Benefits of the insurer (occupational disability), last updated: November 2026 (in German)
- Section 43 SGB VI (Social Code VI), Reduced earning capacity pension, last updated: November 2026 (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
