Investment & Wealth
Disability Insurance
disability insurance calculator
BU Insurance Calculator: Accurately calculate your disability pension and plan financial security
One in four employees in Germany will become unable to work during their lifetime. A disability insurance calculator shows you quickly and easily how you can secure your financial future. Find out how to calculate your optimal pension amount and understand the key contract details.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A disability insurance calculator provides a quick initial assessment of contributions and potential pension amounts, making it easier to compare providers.
The cost of an occupational disability insurance (BU) strongly depends on individual factors such as age, occupation, and health condition; signing up earlier often ensures more favourable premiums.
Crucial are contract clauses such as the waiver of abstract referral, a short prognosis period, and good supplementary insurance guarantees.
Quick orientation: What a disability insurance calculator can do
A disability insurance calculator is an online tool that provides you with a preliminary assessment of your potential contributions and pension amount. You enter a few personal details, such as your birth date, occupation, and desired pension amount. Within minutes, you receive an overview of various tariffs. Many calculators also offer comparison features for different providers. This enables initial orientation in the complex field of disability insurance. Keep in mind that this is an initial indication, and individual advice on disability insurance is often advisable.
Practical examples: How factors affect your occupational disability insurance costs
The cost of an occupational disability insurance varies greatly and depends on several factors. A 25-year-old commercial employee pays approximately 70 euros for a monthly disability pension of 1,500 euros, for example. For a nurse of the same age, the costs can rise to around 130 euros for the same pension amount. Students can often expect contributions starting from about 50 euros. The younger and healthier you are at the time of signing the insurance, the cheaper the premiums usually are. A disability insurance calculator for specific occupational groups can provide more precise results here. These examples highlight the importance of an individual comparison.
Expert Knowledge: Understanding Important Clauses and Pitfalls
Besides the price, the contract terms are crucial for a good occupational disability insurance. Pay attention to the waiver of the abstract referral; this is one of the most important clauses. The forecast period should not exceed six months. A good guarantee of increase allows you to raise your pension later without a new health check. Many overlook the importance of a guaranteed pension increase in the event of a claim to offset inflation. A comprehensive explanation of occupational disability helps to understand these details. A careful examination of these points protects you from unpleasant surprises.
Pay attention to the following important clauses:
Waiver of abstract referral: The insurer must not refer you to another profession that you could theoretically still perform.
Shortened forecast period: Six months is common to determine occupational disability.
Guarantee of increase: Raising the pension for specific life events (e.g., marriage, birth, salary increase) without a new health check.
Benefit from 50 percent occupational disability: This is the common degree of occupational disability for a benefit.
Infection clause: Important for medical professions, provides benefits in case of a work ban due to infection.
These clauses are crucial for solid protection.
Tax Aspects: Properly Handling Contributions and Pensions
The tax treatment of contributions and pensions from a disability insurance is an important aspect. Contributions to an independent disability insurance can be claimed as other provident expenses. The maximum amount for this is 1,900 euros annually for employees and 2,800 euros for self-employed individuals. In the event of a claim, the disability pension must be taxed, but often only the profit portion is taxable. If your total taxable income is below the basic allowance (12,096 euros for 2025), no tax will be due. An article on tax deductibility can clarify further details here. A precise review of your tax situation is recommended.
Optimal pension amount: Determine your actual needs
The right amount of disability insurance pension is crucial to maintain your standard of living in the event of a claim. Experts often recommend securing about 80 percent of your net income. For a net income of €3,000, this would amount to a €2,400 disability pension. When calculating, consider all ongoing costs like rent, loans, and living expenses. Don’t forget to also factor in contributions to health insurance and any taxes on the disability pension. A pension set too low, for example, only €1,000, is often insufficient. An accurate calculation of your required disability pension is essential. This ensures that your financial gap is covered.
When determining your needs, consider the following items:
Ongoing monthly fixed costs (rent, utilities, energy).
Expenditure on food and clothing (approx. €400-600 per person).
Insurance premiums (health insurance, liability, etc.).
Loan installments for mortgages or consumer credits.
Savings contributions for retirement (at least ten percent of the disability pension amount).
Expenses for mobility (car, public transport).
Possible maintenance obligations.
A detailed household budget helps to ascertain the exact needs.
Final Checklist: The Most Important Points Before Signing
Before taking out an occupational disability insurance, you should carefully consider several points. Do not compare prices only; pay special attention to the terms and conditions of different providers. Answer the health questions absolutely truthfully and completely; even small errors here can have serious consequences. Ensure a sufficiently long term, ideally until the statutory retirement age (usually 67 years). Check the options for premium dynamics and benefit dynamics so you can adjust your pension to inflation in the future. A consideration of the necessity of an occupational disability policy is the first step. Careful preparation and, if necessary, expert advice are invaluable.
Your checklist before signing:
Health questions: Answer all questions completely and absolutely correctly.
Abstract referral: Pay attention to the exclusion of this clause.
Concrete referral: Review the conditions under which the insurer may refer you to another occupation.
Prognosis period: Ideally six months.
Duration: Until the planned retirement age, at least until 67 years.
Pension amount: Calculate according to your needs (approximately 80 percent of net income).
Post-insurance guarantees: Check options for increasing the pension without a new health examination.
Dynamic options: Understand premium and benefit dynamics to adjust for inflation.
These points will help you find a strong contract.
Your next step towards financial security
Using an occupational disability insurance calculator is a good first step to getting a sense of costs and benefits. However, it does not replace individual advice that takes your personal life situation and needs into account. A careful selection and the conclusion of suitable occupational disability insurance are crucial for your financial future. Remember that a BU concluded too late or incorrectly can leave significant financial gaps in the event of a claim. Take charge of your own financial security. Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed for free and receive specific optimization suggestions.
More useful links
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung offers statistics and reports on disability pensions over time.
The Statistical Office provides information about social assistance in Germany.
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs explains the definition of occupational disability in the pensions lexicon.
The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) offers a publication on reintegration management.
The Consumer Advice Centre provides information on occupational disability insurance and how you can protect yourself against loss of income.
The German Actuarial Society publishes an article stating that one in four people become occupationally disabled.
Stiftung Warentest offers a test report on occupational disability insurance.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides statistics on incapacity for work (AU) by age and diagnosis for 2020.
FAQ
What exactly does an occupational disability insurance calculator do?
An occupational disability insurance calculator determines a prospective monthly contribution based on your details (e.g., age, occupation, desired pension) and often enables an initial comparison of tariffs.
Is the calculation with a disability insurance calculator anonymous?
Yes, most online calculators allow for an anonymous calculation of contributions without needing to provide personal contact details unless you request advice.
What information does an occupational disability insurance calculator require at a minimum?
Typically, the date of birth, current occupation, desired monthly pension amount, and the desired end age of the insurance are required.
Why is the occupation so important for the disability insurance contribution?
Insurers classify occupations into risk groups. Physically demanding or dangerous jobs carry a higher risk of disability and therefore result in higher contributions than purely office-based work, for example.
Can I adjust the disability pension later?
Yes, many policies offer guaranteed insurability options. This allows you to increase the pension without a renewed health check for certain events (e.g., marriage, childbirth, salary increase).
What happens if I change my occupation?
Changing to a less risky occupation can lead to lower contributions; worsening the occupational group classification is usually excluded. The exact regulations can be found in your policy conditions.
