Benefit for temporary incapacity for work
The benefit for temporary incapacity for work is a financial compensation paid by the Health Insurance Fund and the employer to an insured person who loses earnings due to temporary absence from work.
The allowance is paid to an employee, public servant, a person receiving remuneration for work or services based on an agreement under the law of obligations, a taxpayer on business income, a member of the management or supervisory body of a legal person, a self-employed person, or the spouse of a self-employed person engaged in business activities.
In the event of sickness or injury, an insured person is entitled to a sickness benefit until the date of return to work indicated in the certificate for sick leave, but not for more than 240 consecutive calendar days in the case of tuberculosis or 182 consecutive calendar days in the case of any other illness.
If necessary, the doctor may issue a certificate for sick leave for a longer period than the period for which the benefit is paid. The restriction applies only to the period during which the benefit is paid, not to the duration of the sick leave.
In order for the Health Insurance Fund to be able to pay the benefit for incapacity for work, the employer must fill in the certificate of incapacity for work within seven calendar days from the end date of the certificate of incapacity for work.
The employer calculates the sickness benefit based on the average salaries of the last six months of the employee. The Health Insurance Fund calculates the benefit for incapacity for work for a person based on the social tax calculated or paid in the previous calendar year; the data is obtained from the Tax and Customs Board.
The Health Insurance Fund pays the benefit for incapacity for work within 30 days of the employer sending the information. As a general rule, the benefit from the Health Insurance Fund will be paid into the bank account of the employee within a few working days after the employer has sent the data via the e-service ‘Forwarding the certificate of incapacity for work’ on the state portal.
Read more about transferring the data of the certificate of incapacity for work here.
Comparison of benefits for incapacity for work
| Reason for release from work | Number of the reason | Type of certificate | Reimbursement procedure | Duration of payment for an insured event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illness or domestic injury | 1 | Certificate for sick leave | The employer pays the benefit from day 4 to day 8 of the illness. EHIF pays from day 9, the benefit rate is 70%. | Up to 182 days (up to 240 days in case of tuberculosis) |
Traffic injury Complication/illness as a result of a traffic injury | 4
18 | Certificate for sick leave | The employer pays the benefit from day 4 to day 8 of the illness. EHIF pays from day 9, the benefit rate is 70%. | Up to 182 days |
| Quarantine | 10 | Certificate for sick leave | Based on the certificate issued due to quarantine, the employer pays the benefit from day 4 to day 8. EHIF pays from day 9, the benefit rate is 70%. | Up to 7 days |
| Occupational diseases | 2 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF pays the benefit from day 2, the benefit rate is 100%. | Up to 182 days |
Occupational injury Occupational injury in traffic Complication/illness as a result of an occupational injury | 5 6
7 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF pays the benefit from day 2, the benefit rate is 100%. | Up to 182 days |
| Injury received while preventing a criminal offence, protecting national or public interests | 8 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF pays the benefit from day 2, the benefit rate is 100%. | Up to 182 days |
| Transfer to easier work (the start date of the first certificate for sick leave is on or before 14 May 2024.) | 17 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF compensates for the difference in wages caused by the transfer to an easier work, if the person's salary at the time of the transfer to an easier work is lower than his or her average income for the previous calendar year. If a person is released from work due to lack of easier work, the benefit is paid from day 2 at the rate of 70%. The benefit can only be claimed during pregnancy until maternity leave. | Until maternity leave or up 182 days |
| Giving pregnant people work appropriate to their state of health (the start date of the first sick leave is from 15 May 2024). | 17 | Certificate for sick leave | "The Health Insurance Fund reimburses the difference between the salary for the calendar month preceding the start of the first certificate for sick leave indicated by the employer and the salary for the calendar month of the period of transfer to lighter work. During the period of lighter work, the employer must pay the pregnant person at least 50% of their salary before the start of the certificate for sick leave for the transfer to lighter work. If a pregnant person is released from work due to the absence of lighter work, the Health Insurance Fund will pay compensation from the second day at the rate of 70% of their salary before the start of the first certificate for sick leave." | Until maternity leave or up 182 days |
| Illness or injury during pregnancy | 19 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF pays the benefit from day 2, the benefit rate is 70%. | Up to 182 days |
| Nursing a child under the age of 12 or a disabled insured person under the age of 19. | 14 | Certificate for care leave | EHIF pays the benefit from the first day of release, the benefit rate is 80%. | Up to 14 days (the start date of the first certificate for care leave is on or before 14 May 2024.) Up to 60 days (the start date of the first care leave is from 15 May 2024) |
| Nursing a sick family member who is ill at home | 12 | Certificate for care leave | EHIF pays the benefit from the first day of release, the benefit rate is 80%. | Up to 7 days |
| Caring for a child of under 3 years of age or for a disabled child of under 16 years of age when the child’s mother is ill or is receiving obstetrical care | 13 | Certificate for care leave | EHIF pays the benefit from the first day of release, the benefit rate is 80%. | Up to 10 days |
| Organ or haematopoietic stem cell donation | 20 | Certificate for sick leave | EHIF pays from day 1, the benefit rate is 100%. | Up to 182 days |
| Temporary relaxation of working conditions not earlier than from day 61 of the sick leave | 21 | Certificate for sick leave | "The Health Insurance Fund reimburses the difference between the salary for the calendar month preceding the start of the first certificate for sick leave and the salary for the calendar month of the period of transfer to lighter work. During the period of temporary relaxation of working conditions, the employer must pay the person a salary of at least 50% compared to the salary before the start of the first certificate for sick leave." | Up to 122 days |