What is a Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r (social insurance clerk)?
A Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r is a trained specialist in statutory social insurance. They advise insured persons on their rights and obligations, process applications for benefits, calculate contributions and payments, and make decisions on claims in areas such as health insurance, pension, long-term care, accident insurance and unemployment.
Dual vocational training (Ausbildung) of 3 years
Combination of:
Practical training at social insurance institutions (e.g. health insurance funds, pension insurance, care insurance, accident insurance)
Theoretical lessons at vocational school or special insurance academies
Final official exam recognised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
Client counselling
Advising people in person or by phone on their rights, contributions and benefit entitlements
Explaining complex social insurance systems (e.g. pensions, health insurance, unemployment benefits)
Application processing
Checking applications and attached documents
Deciding whether benefits (e.g. sick pay, pension, rehabilitation, care benefits) are granted or refused
Calculating contributions and benefits
Calculating social insurance contributions for employees, self-employed persons or employers
Preparing notices, payment orders and invoices
Communication with other institutions
Coordinating with doctors, employers, employment agencies and authorities
Preparing official reports, letters and statements
Documentation and file management
Maintaining and updating insured persons’ data in IT systems
Filing documents securely in line with data protection regulations
Statutory health insurance funds
Pension insurance institutions
Accident insurance institutions (Berufsgenossenschaften)
Long-term care insurance funds
Organisations dealing with unemployment or social insurance issues
HR departments of large companies (in social insurance matters)
Excellent communication and customer service skills
High level of accuracy and attention to detail
Interest in law, social security regulations and numbers
Good analytical and numerical skills
Strong sense of responsibility and confidentiality
Promotion to team leader or department manager
Specialisation in specific benefit areas (e.g. pensions, rehabilitation, care, contribution law)
Further qualification as Fachwirt/in für Sozial- und Gesundheitswesen
University studies in social management, social law, public management or health economics
Working in internal training, quality management or process optimisation
| Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r | Verwaltungsfachangestellte/r | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Social insurance, contributions and benefit entitlements | General public administration and citizen services |
| Tasks | Processing insurance cases, calculating contributions/benefits | Issuing permits, administrative decisions, internal organisation |
| Work environment | Social insurance institutions and funds | Municipalities, public authorities, administrative offices |
The profession Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r offers a secure and meaningful career in the centre of the German welfare state:
You help people to understand and claim their social insurance rights.
You work in a field with high demand and long-term stability.
You have many options for specialisation, advancement or further studies.
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research. However, errors or incomplete details may still occur. Please treat this article as an initial orientation and always contact the competent authorities for binding and up-to-date information.
