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Who may receive the benefit

Anyone who meets the following requirements:

1. you were previously granted a sickness benefit which is about to end,

2. despite treatment, you are still unable to return to work,

3. further treatment or rehabilitation could restore your ability to work,

4. you meet ONE of the following conditions:

• you are a worker (you have an employment contract),

• you are a contractor (you have concluded an agency contract, a contract of mandate or another contract for the provision of services, including a formal nanny agreement if you work as a nanny),

• you work together with a contractor, 

• you are an outworker working under a contract for outwork (you work at home, for example assemble pens, sew or make felt jewellery),

• you carry out non-agricultural activities or you work together with a person carrying out such activities,

• you are a member of a farming cooperative or a farmers’ cooperative association,

• you have been sentenced to imprisonment or you are remanded in custody and you have a work placement,

• you are a member of the clergy,

• you receive a sickness benefit while no longer being covered by insurance and you are still ill.

When you cannot receive the benefit:

• you have been granted an old-age pension,

• you receive an unemployment benefit or a pre-retirement benefit or allowance,

• you have been granted a disability pension for incapacity for work, you receive a teacher’s compensatory benefit or you are on health leave,

• you are on unpaid leave or childcare leave,

• you have been sentenced to imprisonment or you are remanded in custody and you do NOT have a work placement.

A formal nanny agreement is an agreement with a nanny taking care of a child:

• older than 20 weeks until the end of the school year in which the child reaches the age of 3, 

• under the age of 4 if it is impossible or difficult for the child to receive pre-school education. 

The agreement is concluded in written form between the nanny and the parents or a single parent.

What you need to prepare

• an application for the benefit (ZNp-7) – completed both by you and by the contribution payer (for example, your employer),

• a health certificate (OL-9) – completed by the doctor responsible for your treatment,

• a professional interview from your workplace (OL-10) – issued by the contribution payer. You do not need this document if you carry out non-agricultural activities or you submit an application for the benefit while no longer being covered by health insurance,

• a declaration (Z-10) – if you submit an application for the benefit and you are no longer covered by sickness insurance, 

• a certificate from the contribution payer (for example, your employer) – if you know that the benefit will be paid by the ZUS. The certificate from the contribution payer is not necessary if the ZUS pays you a sickness benefit.

1. 1. Z-3 certificate for workers,
   2. Z-3b certificate for insured persons who carry out non-agricultural activities, insured persons who work together with persons carrying out such activities, and members of the clergy
   3. Z-3a certificate for other insured persons.

What you need to do

If you settle the matter via the ZUS Electronic Services Platform

1. Log on to your profile on the PUE ZUS portal.

2. Select ‘Submission of ZUS Np-7 document’ from the list of services.

3. Complete the application and send it to the ZUS.

4. Collect the other documents. See What you need to prepare for details.

5. Submit the documents to the ZUS branch having jurisdiction over your place of residence. See Where to submit the documents for details.

The documents may be submitted:

• in person,

• through a plenipotentiary,

• by post.

Please remember that the ZUS will request that you undergo an examination by a ZUS certifying doctor.

When to submit the documents

Submit the application at least 6 weeks before the end of the period of entitlement to a sickness benefit (this period lasts 182 days, and 270 days if you are pregnant or you suffer from tuberculosis). In this way, you will not wait for the benefit. You will receive it when the sickness benefit ends. However, submit the application within 18 months after the period during which you received the sickness benefit.

If you cannot submit the application within this deadline for some reason (for example, you are in hospital), you may submit it within 6 months from the date on which this reason ceases to apply. 

How much you will pay

The service is free of charge.

How long you will wait

You will receive the ZUS’s decision within 60 calendar days after you submit all the documents. The decision will specify who will pay you the benefit (the ZUS or the contribution payer, such as your employer).

The certifying doctor may issue a certificate that you disagree with. You may then complain against it. The president of the ZUS may also disagree with the certifying doctor’s decision. In these two cases, the ZUS will request that you be examined by a medical committee. In such a situation, you will receive the ZUS’s decision within 30 days from the examination by the medical committee.

How much you will receive

• 90% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, for the first three months (90 days),

• 75% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, for the remaining period,

• 100% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, if you are unable to work during pregnancy.

The ZUS or the contribution payer will calculate the amount of your benefit.

The sickness benefit assessment basis for workers is the average monthly remuneration (the sickness insurance contribution assessment basis reduced by the portion of social insurance contributions paid by a worker). 

For persons who are not workers, it is the average monthly revenue for which the sickness insurance contribution is paid, reduced by 13.71%.

Both values are calculated on the basis of your remuneration or revenue from the last 12 months before the month when you became unable to work. If you have been insured for a shorter period of time – from the entire period of insurance. In the case of a rehabilitation benefit, it is the assessment basis adopted by the ZUS or the contribution payer for a sickness benefit, after adjustment.

A contribution payer is any company, institution or person that registers insured persons with the Social Insurance Institution and settles and pays social or health insurance contributions for them. It may be, for example, an employer or a person carrying out non-agricultural activities.

When you will receive the benefit (the first payment)

• if the benefit is paid by the ZUS – within 60 days from the date of submission of the application, 

• if the benefit is paid by the contribution payer (for example, your employer) – when the payer pays remuneration. However, the payer must do this within 30 calendar days from the receipt of the ZUS’s decision.

The benefit is paid on a regular basis – you will receive it every month to the account or address indicated in the application.

If you do not agree with the ZUS’s decision

You may appeal to the district labour and social security court. You may do it through the ZUS branch that issued the decision. You should do this within one month from the receipt of the ZUS’s decision. There is no fee for lodging an appeal.

Legal basis:

Act of 25 June 1999 on cash benefits from social insurance in case of sickness or maternity (consolidated text, Journal of Laws from 2020, item 870)

 

AT AN OFFICE

Who may receive the benefit

Anyone who meets the following requirements:

1. you were previously granted a sickness benefit which is about to end,

2. despite treatment, you are still unable to return to work,

3. further treatment or rehabilitation could help you return to work,

4. you meet ONE of the following conditions:

• you are a worker (you have an employment contract),

• you are a contractor (you have concluded an agency contract, a contract of mandate or another contract for the provision of services, including a formal nanny agreement if you work as a nanny),

• you work together with a contractor, 

• you are an outworker working under a contract for outwork (you work at home, for example assemble pens, sew or make felt jewellery),

• you carry out non-agricultural economic activities or you work together with a person carrying out such activities,

• you are a member of a farming cooperative or a farmers’ cooperative association,

• you have been sentenced to imprisonment or you remained in custody and you have a work placement,

• you are a member of the clergy,

• you receive a sickness benefit while no longer being covered by a sickness insurance and you are still ill.

When you cannot receive the benefit:

• you have been granted an old-age pension,

• you receive an unemployment benefit or a pre-retirement benefit or allowance,

• you have been granted a disability pension for incapacity for work, you receive a teacher’s compensatory benefit or you are on health leave,

• you are on unpaid leave or childcare leave,

• you have been sentenced to imprisonment or you are remanded in custody and you do NOT have a work placement.

A formal nanny agreement is an agreement with a nanny taking care of a child:

• older than 20 weeks until the end of the school year in which the child reaches the age of 3, 

• under the age of 4 if it is impossible or difficult for the child to receive pre-school education. 

The agreement is concluded in written form between the nanny and the parents or a single parent.

What you need to prepare

• an identity document, for example identity card or passport, if you come to a ZUS branch personally,

• an application for the benefit (ZNp-7) – completed both by you and by the contribution payer (for example, your employer),

• a health certificate (OL-9) – completed by the doctor responsible for your treatment,

• a professional interview from your workplace (OL-10) – issued by the contribution payer. You do not need this document if you carry out non-agricultural economic activities or you submit an application for the benefit while no longer being covered by a sickness insurance,

• a declaration (Z-10) – if you submit an application for the benefit and you are no longer covered by a sickness insurance,

• a certificate from the contribution payer (for example, your employer) – if you know that the benefit will be paid by the ZUS.

1. Z-3 certificate for workers,

2. Z-3b certificate for insured persons who carry out non-agricultural activities, insured persons who work together with persons carrying out such activities, and members of the clergy,

3. Z-3a certificate for other insured persons.

The certificate from the contribution payer is not necessary if the ZUS pays you a sickness benefit.

What you need to do

1. Download and complete an application for a rehabilitation benefit.

2. Collect all the necessary documents. See What you need to prepare for a list of documents.

3. Submit the application to the ZUS branch having jurisdiction over your place of residence. You may submit the documents in person or through a plenipotentiary. You may also send them by post.

Please remember that the ZUS will request that you undergo an examination by a ZUS certifying doctor.

When to submit the documents

Submit the application at least 6 weeks before the end of the period of entitlement to a sickness benefit (this period lasts 182 days, and 270 days if you are pregnant or you suffer from tuberculosis). In this way, you will not wait for the benefit. You will receive it when the sickness benefit ends. However, submit the application within 18 months after the period during which you received the sickness benefit.

If you cannot submit the application within this deadline for some reason (for example, you are in hospital), you may submit it within 6 months from the date on which this reason ceases to apply. 

Where to submit the documents

At the ZUS branch having jurisdiction over your place of residence.

Enter your postal code to find out where your ZUS branch is located.

How much you will pay

The service is free of charge.

How long you will wait

You will receive the ZUS’s decision within 60 calendar days after you submit all the documents. The decision will specify who will pay you the benefit (the ZUS or the contribution payer, such as your employer).

The certifying doctor may issue a certificate that you disagree with. You may then complain against it. The president of the ZUS may also disagree with the certifying doctor’s decision. In these two cases, the ZUS will request that you be examined by a medical committee. In such a situation, you will receive the ZUS’s decision within 30 days from the examination by the medical committee.

How much you will receive

• 90% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, for the first three months (90 days),

• 75% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, for the remaining period,

• 100% of the sickness benefit assessment basis, if you are unable to work during pregnancy.

The ZUS or the contribution payer will calculate the amount of your benefit.

The sickness benefit assessment basis for workers is the average monthly remuneration (the sickness insurance contribution assessment basis reduced by the portion of social insurance contributions paid by a worker).

For persons who are not workers, it is the average monthly revenue for which the sickness insurance contribution is paid, reduced by 13.71%.

Both values are calculated on the basis of your remuneration or revenue from the last 12 months before the month when you became unable to work. If you have been insured for a shorter period of time – from the entire period of insurance. In the case of a rehabilitation benefit, it is the assessment basis adopted by the ZUS or the contribution payer for a sickness benefit, after adjustment.

A contribution payer is any company, institution or person that registers insured persons with the Social Insurance Institution and settles and pays social or health insurance contributions for them. It may be, for example, an employer or a person carrying out non-agricultural activities.

When you will receive the benefit (the first payment)

If the benefit is paid by the ZUS – within 60 days from the date of submission of the application, and if the benefit is paid by the contribution payer (for example, your employer) – when the payer pays remuneration. However, the payer must do this within 30 calendar days from the receipt of the ZUS’s decision.

The benefit is paid on a regular basis – you will receive it every month to the account or address indicated in the application.

If you do not agree with the ZUS’s decision

You may appeal to the district labour and social security court. You may do it through the ZUS branch that issued the decision. You should do this within one month from the receipt of the ZUS’s decision. There is no fee for lodging an appeal.

Legal basis:

Act of 25 June 1999 on cash benefits from social insurance in case of sickness or maternity (consolidated text, Journal of Laws from 2020, item 870)

 

NAME OF THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THE INFORMATION

Ministry of Family and Social Policy

Department of Social Insurance

email: info@mrips.gov.pl