Sickness benefit
Benefit from ZUS for insured employees and entrepreneurs (with voluntary sickness insurance) during a period of inability to work due to illness. Paid after the employer-funded sick pay is exhausted (first 33 days per calendar year; 14 days for employees aged 50+).
Check your benefits in the calculator →Who is entitled to the sickness benefit?
- Employees on employment contracts (after the employer-paid sick pay is exhausted)
- Self-employed persons with voluntary sickness insurance with ZUS
- Contractors who enrolled in voluntary sickness insurance
- People receiving maternity benefit or rehabilitation benefit — once those are exhausted
The calculator doesn't know your wage. It shows that the benefit applies and cites the formula (80% × average wage over 12 months). The exact amount is determined by ZUS after submitting form Z-3 (employee) or Z-3a (contractor, entrepreneur).
How to receive the benefit?
Step 1: medical certificate (e-ZLA)
The doctor issues e-ZLA — it goes automatically to your employer and ZUS. You don't need to submit anything yourself.
Step 2: employer-paid sick pay
The employer pays 80% of the wage for the first 33 days of sickness per year (14 days for employees aged 50+) — under the Labour Code.
Step 3: benefit from ZUS
Once the employer-paid sick pay is exhausted, ZUS automatically pays the sickness benefit — based on form ZUS Z-3 (employee) or Z-3a (self-employed/contractor).
Amount
80% of the average wage from the 12 months preceding the illness. 100% in special cases (pregnancy, accident on the way to work, donation).
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the sickness benefit in 2026?
- 80% of the basis of assessment — i.e. 80% of the average monthly wage over the 12 months preceding the illness (after deduction of social security contributions). 100% during pregnancy, accidents on the way to/from work and when donating cells, tissues or organs (art. 11 sect. 2 of the Act).
- How long can the sickness benefit be paid?
- Up to 182 days per calendar year (art. 8 of the Act). During pregnancy or tuberculosis-related incapacity — up to 270 days. After this period, you can apply for the rehabilitation benefit (90%/75% of the basis, up to 12 months).
- Are self-employed people entitled to the sickness benefit?
- Yes, but only if they enrolled in voluntary sickness insurance with ZUS. The sickness contribution is 2.45% of the basis and is voluntary for entrepreneurs (mandatory for employees).
- The first 33 days are paid by the employer — what if I'm sick for 10 days?
- That's employer-paid sick pay (80% of the basis, Labour Code art. 92) — not a ZUS benefit. ZUS only starts paying after 33 days of illness per year (14 for those aged 50+). Short illnesses are fully covered by the employer.
Check the full list of benefits
Our calculator compares the sickness benefit with other forms of support (rehabilitation benefit, FUS disability pension, supporting benefit) — in 2 minutes.
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