Occupational disability: younger people affected more often in comparison

Young people are not affected as often as older people, because they are healthier on average? Wrong thought!

What are we talking about? This statement can be applied to many topics, but we're talking about professional disability. Because a survey shows which age groups are ill for a particularly long time.

Long illnesses are perhaps more widespread than some might think.

One in three working Germans has been unable to do his or her job for more than six weeks. Of this third, in turn, just under half had been out of work for more than six months or even permanently.

This is shown by a survey of nearly 1.000 Germans, conducted by the IMWF Institute for Management and Economic Research on behalf of Hannoversche.

The figures at a glance

Surprisingly, it's mainly the younger ones who are affected. 46 percent of those under 30 and 39 percent of those between 30 and 39 have already been unable to work for more than six weeks.

The least affected here was the group of 40 to 49 year olds with 23 percent.

Of the generations 60+, 31 percent were once unable to work for six weeks or longer. This is also less than among younger groups!

The longest downtimes

Younger people are also in the lead when it comes to very long periods of absence from work. 21 percent of respondents under the age of 30 have been ill for more than six months or even permanently. For senior citizens, the figure is 19 percent.

The values also apply to acquaintances and friends. 62 percent of younger respondents know people who have been unable to work for longer than six weeks.

Appropriate precautions

Only 15 percent of respondents have taken out occupational disability insurance. The would at least step in with a pension as soon as someone is out of work for longer than six months. Of those starting their careers between the ages of 18 and 29, only approx. 14 percent.

Occupational disability insurance

The occupational disability insurance, abbreviated also BU, is one of the most important insurances, which one can have. It pays a monthly pension if you can no longer work in your current job for health reasons.

Here, the earlier and healthier you take out the policy, the cheaper the insurance.

Insurers classify you as BU if you are no longer able to pursue your last profession for at least six months. In addition, the 50 percent rule is invoked here. Only if you can no longer perform at least 50 percent of your professional activity, the insurance pays the agreed BU pension.