How can I take out voluntary unemployment insurance?
Voluntary unemployment insurance for the self-employed
Self-employed individuals working at least 15 hours per week have the option to voluntarily insure against unemployment. This is referred to as "insurance on request". The prerequisite is that you were employed in a position subject to compulsory insurance for at least 12 months within the two years prior to starting your self-employment. Alternatively, receipt of wage replacement benefits (e.g. unemployment benefit) is accepted, regardless of the duration.
Important deadline:
The voluntary insurance must be applied for within three months of starting self-employment.
Contribution amount
The monthly contribution for voluntary unemployment insurance is based on the reference value of social insurance:
- Reference value West (2024): 3,535 Euro/month
- Reference value East (2024): 3,465 Euro/month
Benefits in the event of unemployment
If the self-employment fails, the insured person receives benefits from the unemployment insurance. The amount of unemployment benefit is usually calculated based on the previous gross salary as an employee, provided you were employed in a position subject to compulsory insurance for at least 150 days in the last two years.
If these 150 days cannot be proven, the unemployment benefit is determined based on a fictitious income. This is based on professional qualifications and is set by the employment agency.
Insurance for caregivers
Since 2017, there has been a compulsory insurance for caregivers (§ 26 para. 2b SGB III):
- Compulsorily insured are persons who give up their professional activity to care for relatives with care level 2 to 5 (at least 10 hours per week spread over two days).
- Prerequisite: The caregiver must have been employed in a position subject to compulsory insurance or registered as unemployed before the caregiving activity.
- The contributions to unemployment insurance are paid by the care fund.
The contributory income for caregivers is 50% of the monthly reference value. In 2024, this is:
- Old federal states: 3,535 Euro
- New federal states: 3,465 Euro
Insurance during parental leave
Parents who take parental leave according to § 15 BEEG after their child's third year can also voluntarily insure themselves in unemployment insurance since 1.8.2016 (§ 28a para. 1 no. 4 SGB III).
