Benefits

Classify pensions, parental benefits, sickness benefits and unemployment benefits in an understandable way

This guide combines pension, parental allowance, sickness benefit and ALG I into a clear everyday perspective.

Updated on Apr 21, 2026 Topic: Citizen’s benefit, housing benefit, child supplement, parental allowance, unemployment benefit

Four services, four different logics

At first glance, many social benefits sound similar. However, in everyday life they perform completely different tasks:

  • pension is the long-term benefit for retirement.
  • Parental allowance supports families after the birth of a child.
  • Sick pay applies to prolonged illness.
  • Unemployment benefit I secures the transition after job loss.

Which calculator helps with which question?

computer Key question
Pension calculator Which monthly pension can be roughly derived from my earnings points?
Parental allowance calculator How much could my parental allowance be approximately per month?
Sickness benefit calculator What is left after six weeks of illness?
Unemployment benefit calculator How high could ALG I be as a rough guide?
Parental leave calculator How do I plan the periods around birth and parental leave?

Pension: planning instead of notification

The Pension calculator is a planning tool. It helps to make salary points, pension value and possible discounts tangible. However, the information from the German pension insurance always remains binding.

Parental allowance: income before and after the birth

At the Parental allowance calculator It depends on the income before the birth and, if applicable, the income during the period of receipt. Bonuses for siblings or multiples also play a role. The parental allowance office and the official application remain decisive for the precise examination.

Sickness benefit: wage replacement in the event of a long-term illness

Sickness benefit usually only begins after six weeks of continued payment of wages. The Sickness benefit calculator shows how 70 percent of the gross, 90 percent of the net and the social security limits interact.

ALG I: flat rate net instead of real payout net

At the Unemployment benefit calculator It is important to understand that it is not your usual net that counts. The employment agency works with a flat-rate performance fee. That's exactly why this calculator is deliberately marked as an estimate.

Conclusion

Pension, parental allowance, sickness allowance and ALG I each follow their own logic. If you know which benefit corresponds to which situation, notices and calculations become much more understandable.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions on this topic

Why are all results just estimates?

Because personal decisions, individual employment histories and special cases can vary greatly in individual cases.

What is the most important difference between sick pay and ALG I?

Sickness benefit is linked to a longer illness, ALG I to unemployment and insured periods of employment.

Can I confuse parental allowance and parental leave?

Yes, that happens often. Parental leave regulates the period, parental allowance regulates the possible cash benefit.

Matching calculators

Continue calculating

Pension calculator

Statutory pension calculated from earnings points and current pension value.