Categories
Pages
-

Corona-News

Childcare Relief Options for Parents

January 29th, 2021 | by

Remote learning – or online classes – will continue at schools in North Rhine-Westphalia until February 12. In all schools and types of schools, instruction continues to be provided remotely for all grades. For pupils in grades 1 through 6 and pupils with special care or support needs, some educational support through in-person instruction is still offered. Further information in German can be found here.

The state government’s urgent appeal to parents of children in daycare has also been extended until February 14. The State Minister for Family Affairs, Dr. Joachim Stamp, urges parents to continue to only use daycare services when absolutely necessary in the coming weeks.

The following childcare relief options are currently available to parents:

Parents who have statutory health insurance will now be able to apply for 20 instead of 10 days of child sick leave (Kinderkrankengeld) per statutorily insured child and parent in 2021 and a maximum total of 45 days if the parent has more than one child. The entitlement for single parents increases by 20 days to 40 days per child, with up to a maximum of 90 days if the parent has more than one child. Child sick leave can be claimed from the statutory health insurance fund using the following form. RWTH grants unpaid leave of absence for parents who submit a “Leave of Absence to Care for a Sick Child” request using the form available on the Forms Database.

Civil servants in North Rhine-Westphalia also receive more childcare days. State civil servants may claim up to 20 days of special leave per child, up to a maximum of 45 days in total per year. The entitlement for single parents increases to up to 40 special leave days per child, with up to a maximum of 90 days if the parent has more than one child. As before, the days can also be granted to care for sick, disabled, or dependent children. In addition, the special leave days can now also be granted if childcare facilities, schools or facilities for individuals with special needs have to be temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic or can only provide their services to a limited extent. Parents can request special leave days regardless of whether they have the option of working from home.

More information on the regulations above can be found in German here.

Information on wage replacement due to the closure of prohibited access to the day care center or school in accordance with § 56 of the Infection Protection Law as well as the opportunity of requesting the three coronavirus special leave days granted by RWTH can be found in the following blog post.

The city of Aachen has also decided to reduce the KiTa – or childcare – fees for the month of January 2021.

If you have any questions or need advice, the Family Services Center of the Equal Opportunities Office (familienservice@rwth-aachen.de) and your contact person in the responsible HR department will be happy to help.

Comments are closed.