Postings/A1
If you are doing temporary work in another European country, you should check whether the conditions for (self-)posting apply to you. If so, you should apply for an A1 certificate from the relevant insurance provider. This means that the country responsible for social security does not change: during temporary work abroad, the provisions of the artist's usual place of insurance continue to apply. Even if contractual partners abroad do not explicitly request the A1 certificate, it should be obtained for every temporary work-related stay abroad. Without it, your occupational accident insurance provider may not be liable if a work-related accident occurs abroad.
Attendants for artists with disabilities should also apply for an A1 certificate if they perform their duties on a professional basis. If they are employed by an institution, the institution should apply for the A1 certificate for postings abroad; if they are self-employed, they must apply for it themselves. More information can be found here.
The A1 certificate also determines which country is responsible for social security in cases involving multiple activities in several countries. More information can be found here.
S2 certificate (planned treatment abroad)
In general, it is possible to apply for an S2 certificate for planned treatment abroad. This certificate confirms that your health insurance fund will cover the costs of treatment abroad. This may be the case if a particular treatment can only be carried out by specialists abroad, for example. The document must be available before departure.
Further information can be found here.
Care allowance
Students with a recognised level of care are generally entitled to care insurance benefits, including during stays abroad.
An applicant is only entitled to non-cash benefits abroad if the carer who usually provides these accompanies the applicant during their stay abroad, and even then only for a maximum of six weeks per year. Applications for payment of care allowance abroad must be submitted well in advance to the long-term care insurance fund and justified appropriately. It is advisable to contact the long-term care insurance fund early to clarify individual regulations, funding options and application procedures.
Students with disabilities may also be eligible for additional funding if they are travelling abroad through ERASMUS+ or DAAD programmes. Further information can be found on the website of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (German National Association for Student Affairs) (information in German).
Studying abroad within the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland: If you are studying in an EU member state, the EEA or Switzerland, you can continue to receive your care allowance in accordance with Section 37 of Book XI of the German Social Code (SGB XI) (or the proportional care allowance in accordance with Section 38 SGB XI) – just as you would if you were studying in Germany. In individual cases, you can also apply for subsidies from the responsible long-term care insurance fund to cover additional care-related costs incurred specifically as a result of the stay abroad (e.g. for care or mobility aids).
Stays in third countries (outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland): Entitlement to benefits is limited significantly for study stays in third countries. In these cases, care allowance can only be claimed for a limited period of up to six weeks per calendar year. Entitlement to non-cash benefits (e.g. a local carer) also only applies for a period of six weeks during a stay in a third country.
An application for an exemption may be submitted for stays outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland that exceed the permitted length. However, approval is granted at the discretion of the long-term care insurance fund.
Can people from other EU countries receive care allowance in Germany? People from other EU countries cannot receive care allowance, but can receive long-term care insurance benefits if they are legally resident in Germany, have statutory health insurance coverage and require care. However, those who have not paid directly into the long-term care insurance fund will only receive non-cash benefits.
Section 23 of Book XII of the German Social Code (SGB XII) regulates the basic conditions under which foreigners can receive social benefits in Germany.
Further information
Pflegebedürftig – was nun? (information in German)
Advice of students with disabilities / chronic illnesses
Informationsangebote über Auslandsstudien für Behinderte und chronisch Erkrankte (Information on studying abroad for disabled and chronically ill students, in German language)
Disability pension
Periods of employment in other EU countries (as well as in EEA countries and Switzerland) count towards pension and disability pension entitlements in Germany thanks to EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems.
In concrete terms, this means that if you have worked in several EU/EEA countries or in Switzerland and paid into their social security systems, these periods of insurance are added together. Disability pensions (also known as reduced earning capacity pensions) are granted on a pro rata basis in the same way if you were insured in such countries and meet certain requirements.
A disability pension is a social benefit paid to individuals who are no longer able to work or can only work to a limited extent due to illness or disability.
Form U1 confirms insurance periods completed in another EU member state, an EEA country or Switzerland. It is issued by the relevant social security institution or labour authority in the country where the person last worked. In Germany, the German Statutory Pension Insurance Fund or the Employment Agency can assist with including periods of work abroad in the German benefit calculation. The U1 form can be particularly important for artists working abroad on a temporary or project-related basis, as it helps them avoid interruptions to their entitlement to unemployment benefits or pension insurance periods.
Further information