diff --git a/src/ccma/domain/contributions.py b/src/ccma/domain/contributions.py
index c731f2e..4aab558 100644
--- a/src/ccma/domain/contributions.py
+++ b/src/ccma/domain/contributions.py
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ def allocated_total(data: ContributionData, claim_id: str) -> Decimal:
     )
 
 
+def claim_settled_total(data: ContributionData, claim: dict[str, Any]) -> Decimal:
+    allocated = allocated_total(data, str(claim.get("claim_id", "")))
+    if claim_total(claim) < 0:
+        return abs(allocated).quantize(CENT)
+    return allocated.quantize(CENT)
+
+
 def payment_allocated_total(data: ContributionData, payment_id: str) -> Decimal:
     return sum(
         (
diff --git a/src/ccma/services/documents.py b/src/ccma/services/documents.py
index af80139..31733e1 100644
--- a/src/ccma/services/documents.py
+++ b/src/ccma/services/documents.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ from xml.etree import ElementTree
 
 from ccma.domain.contributions import (
     CLAIM_STATUS_LABELS,
-    allocated_total,
     claim_balance,
     claim_items,
+    claim_settled_total,
     claim_status,
     claim_total,
     money_text,
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ def _template_values(
                 ),
                 "claim.created_at": _display_timestamp(str(claim.get("created_at", ""))),
                 "claim.total": f"{money_text(claim_total(claim))} EUR",
-                "claim.paid": f"{money_text(allocated_total(data, claim_id))} EUR",
+                "claim.paid": f"{money_text(claim_settled_total(data, claim))} EUR",
                 "claim.balance": f"{money_text(claim_balance(data, claim))} EUR",
                 "claim.status": CLAIM_STATUS_LABELS.get(status, status),
                 "claim.items": "; ".join(item_lines),
diff --git a/src/ccma/ui/claim_tab.py b/src/ccma/ui/claim_tab.py
index 97e0263..1f84bb1 100644
--- a/src/ccma/ui/claim_tab.py
+++ b/src/ccma/ui/claim_tab.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from ccma.domain.contributions import (
     allocated_total,
     claim_balance,
     claim_items,
+    claim_settled_total,
     claim_status,
     claim_total,
     credit_allocated_total,
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ class ClaimTab(ttk.Frame):
             messagebox.showerror("Forderung konnte nicht geladen werden", str(exc), parent=self)
             return
         total = claim_total(self.claim)
-        paid = allocated_total(self.data, self.claim_id)
+        paid = claim_settled_total(self.data, self.claim)
         balance = claim_balance(self.data, self.claim)
         status = claim_status(self.data, self.claim)
         self.title_var.set(str(self.claim.get("title") or "Forderung"))
diff --git a/tests/test_contributions.py b/tests/test_contributions.py
index 0905700..992cba1 100644
--- a/tests/test_contributions.py
+++ b/tests/test_contributions.py
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ from decimal import Decimal
 import pytest
 
 from ccma.domain.contributions import (
+    allocated_total,
     claim_balance,
     claim_items,
+    claim_settled_total,
     claim_status,
     claim_total,
     payment_allocated_total,
@@ -102,6 +104,25 @@ def test_payment_can_be_split_across_multiple_claims(tmp_path) -> None:
         )
 
 
+def test_credit_claim_settlement_is_displayed_as_positive_amount() -> None:
+    claim = {"claim_id": "claim-1", "title": "Kautionsrückzahlung", "amount": "-25.00"}
+    data = ContributionData(
+        claims=[claim],
+        credits=[{"credit_id": "credit-1", "amount": "25.00"}],
+        allocations=[
+            {
+                "allocation_id": "allocation-1",
+                "claim_id": "claim-1",
+                "credit_id": "credit-1",
+                "amount": "25.00",
+            }
+        ],
+    )
+
+    assert allocated_total(data, "claim-1") == Decimal("-25.00")
+    assert claim_settled_total(data, claim) == Decimal("25.00")
+
+
 def test_reminder_fee_increases_claim_and_is_audited(tmp_path) -> None:
     repository, member = _repository_with_claim(tmp_path)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_documents.py b/tests/test_documents.py
index 8677c72..9f15944 100644
--- a/tests/test_documents.py
+++ b/tests/test_documents.py
@@ -58,6 +58,28 @@ def test_document_and_claim_creation_time_placeholders() -> None:
     assert values["claim.created_at"] == "21.06.2026 14:35"
 
 
+def test_credit_claim_paid_placeholder_is_positive() -> None:
+    member = Member("member-1", "CCMA-1", "Ada", "Lovelace")
+    claim = {"claim_id": "claim-1", "title": "Kautionsrückzahlung", "amount": "-25.00"}
+    data = ContributionData(
+        claims=[claim],
+        credits=[{"credit_id": "credit-1", "amount": "25.00"}],
+        allocations=[
+            {
+                "allocation_id": "allocation-1",
+                "claim_id": "claim-1",
+                "credit_id": "credit-1",
+                "amount": "25.00",
+            }
+        ],
+    )
+
+    values, _repeats = _template_values(member, data=data, claim=claim)
+
+    assert values["claim.paid"] == "25.00 EUR"
+    assert values["claim.balance"] == "0.00 EUR"
+
+
 def test_claim_item_loop_clones_formatted_table_row() -> None:
     source = b"""<office:document
  xmlns:office="urn:oasis:names:tc:opendocument:xmlns:office:1.0"