Register for social insurance for self-employed artists or journalists

Before the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) can determine whether you are subject to compulsory insurance, it checks whether you meet the requirements for this.

According to the Artists' Social Insurance Act (KSVG), you are an artist if you

• music,
• performing arts or
• visual arts or teach them.

You are considered a publicist if you

• as a writer,
• a journalist or
• are active as a journalist in a similar capacity or
• teach journalism.

If you belong to one of these groups and meet all other requirements, your compulsory insurance includes general pension and statutory health insurance as well as social long-term care insurance. You must pay monthly contributions to the Künstlersozialkasse.

The contributions are calculated on the basis of

• the anticipated and pre-estimated income from self-employed artistic or journalistic work and
• the contribution rates for the individual branches of insurance.

As a self-employed artist or journalist who is compulsorily insured by law, you pay approximately half of the total contribution to the Künstlersozialkasse.

The other half of the contribution is paid by the Künstlersozialkasse on your behalf.

You are entitled to the same statutory health insurance benefits as employees. This also includes an entitlement to sick pay in the event of incapacity to work.

The Artists' Social Insurance Act provides for various exemptions from compulsory insurance. In addition, there are also options for exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation under certain conditions. You can obtain further information on this from the Artists' Social Insurance Fund.

Requirements

As a self-employed artist or publicist, you are generally insured if you

• carry out the artistic or journalistic activity on a commercial and not merely temporary basis and
• do not employ more than one employee in connection with the artistic or publishing activity. Exception: The employment is for vocational training or is marginal.

What documents do I need?

• Completed online application or completed PDF form
• Questionnaire for checking the insurance obligation for artists and publicists
• Proof of activity: current contracts with clients or statements of account, invoices and bank documents.
• Other supporting documents: advertising material, proof of artistic or journalistic training, certificate of membership in professional interest groups, photocopy of your identity card/passport with current registration confirmation
• If you are already a member of a statutory health insurance fund: Membership certificate from the health insurance company. Otherwise, a provisional certificate from the chosen health insurance fund
• In addition, a copy of your residence permit if you do not have German citizenship or citizenship of another European Union country
• Proof of parental status
  
  • Copy of your child's birth certificate
  • Proof of parental status

  The following applies: If you only have one or no children under the age of 25, the Künstlersozialkasse only requires proof of one child, otherwise the Künstlersozialkasse requires the birth certificates of all children.

• Which additional documents you need to submit depends on your individual situation. Please note the relevant information in the online application or in the PDF form.