Here’s the deal
- For an accident during work or on the direct way to work, statutory accident insurance pays, not you.
- Covered are treatment, rehabilitation, travel costs, injury benefit, and in serious cases a pension.
- The condition is registration: for a mini-job automatically through the Minijob-Zentrale, above 603 €/month through the accident insurance fund.
- As a registered employer you are protected from your helper's claims for damages (employer's liability privilege).
- Without registration you are personally liable, and the accident insurance can bill you for the treatment costs.
Falling off a ladder while cleaning windows is a scenario many people fear. And for good reason, as medical costs can add up quickly. If the job is registered, this exact case is covered: statutory accident insurance steps in, and you are not held liable. Here, we explain what is covered, what you need to report, and why registration makes all the difference.
Who pays if my domestic helper is injured at work?
Statutory accident insurance, not you. As soon as your helper is registered, they are covered by accident insurance for all household activities—from cleaning and gardening to childcare—as well as for their direct commute to and from work. This duty is set out in § 2 SGB VII.
So, if your helper falls off a ladder at your home or has an accident on their way to you, it is classified as a work-related or commuting accident, and the accident insurance covers it.
What exactly does the accident insurance cover?
All costs associated with the accident. These include:
- outpatient and inpatient treatment
- necessary therapies and rehabilitation
- travel costs to medical appointments
- injury benefits if your helper is unable to work for an extended period
- a pension in serious cases
This does not create any extra costs for you. The accident insurance contribution (1.6% for a mini-job) is already included in your regular contributions. An overview of all insurance requirements can be found in our blog post: Insuring a domestic helper.
Am I protected from claims as an employer?
Yes. This is the often-overlooked advantage of registration: because the accident insurance is liable for work-related accidents, your helper cannot sue you personally for damages. This so-called employer's liability privilege is set out in § 104 SGB VII. It only ceases to apply if you caused the accident intentionally or through gross negligence.
Without this privilege, i.e., with an unregistered job, the situation is different; more on that below.
What do I need to do after an accident?
Two things. First, the report: if your helper had to see a doctor because of the accident, you must report it. The Minijob-Zentrale explains how the accident report works; the treating doctor can also file it. After that, the accident insurance will contact your helper.
Second, the wage: for the first six weeks, you continue to pay the wage, just as you would with an illness, and for a mini-job, you are reimbursed 80% through the U1 levy. How that works is explained in the post Domestic helper off sick. If your helper is off for longer than six weeks, the accident insurance pays the injury benefit.
What happens if I haven't registered my helper?
Then there is no coverage at all, and it can become expensive for you. If the job is not registered, the accident insurance will still step in for your helper, but it can bill you as the employer for the treatment costs in full or in part. At the same time, the liability privilege is lost: your helper can then hold you personally liable for damages and compensation for pain and suffering.
An unreported hour of cleaning can quickly turn into a case worth several thousand euros. Why and from when registration is mandatory is set out in the article Registration requirement for domestic help; how registration works is in the blog post Hiring a domestic helper.
What does quitt take care of for me?
quitt is an app-based service that handles the employment of your domestic helper for you, accident coverage included. With registration through quitt, your helper is automatically covered by accident insurance, and you enjoy the liability privilege. If something happens, quitt supports you with the report and handles the continued pay.
You remain the employer throughout and decide whom you hire and what you pay. quitt does the work behind the scenes.
Found a household helper? Start the registration and quitt handles the insurance coverage. You can see the service costs on the pricing page.
Registered means the accident is covered
quitt registers your domestic helper and arranges the statutory accident cover, liability privilege included. You stay the employer, we do the rest.
