Who may receive the sickness benefit

Anyone who meets ALL the following conditions:

1. has obtained a sick note,

2. has been unable to work due to an illness or accident for at least 30 days,

3. became ill:

• within 14 days after sickness or accident insurance ended,

• within 3 months after sickness insurance ended – if the symptoms of the disease (for example, an infectious disease such as rubella) appeared only 14 days after the disease began.

What you need to prepare

• a declaration on a ZUS Z-10 form,

• an application for the benefit on a ZAS-53 form or a Z-3b certificate – if you are a person who carried out non-agricultural activities – or a printout of an e-ZLA medical certificate or

• a medical certificate on a form printed from the system – issued in an alternative manner, for example when the doctor has no internet connection. You need not submit a certificate issued in an alternative manner if you are certain that the doctor has already entered your sick note into the system (you may check this through your profile on the PUE ZUS portal, if you have one).

In order for the ZUS to be able to check whether you are entitled to a benefit and determine its amount, your former contribution payer should send a Z-3 or Z-3a certificate to the ZUS. If you are a person who ran a business, submit a Z-3b certificate.

In some cases, you must also prepare the following additional documents:

When	What you need to prepare
If you are pregnant but the doctor has not entered the code ‘B’ in your sick note.	A medical certificate confirming that you are pregnant.
You are unable to work as a result of an accident: at work, on the way to or from work.	A medical certificate confirming that you are unable to work as a result of an accident and one of the following documents: an accident sheet for an accident on the way to or from work, an accident sheet for an accident at work – if your insurance did not result from the employment contract, an accident report – if your insurance resulted from the employment contract.
You suffer from an occupational disease	Two documents: a decision of a sanitary inspector confirming that you suffer from an occupational disease, a medical certificate confirming that you are unable to work as a result of an occupational disease.
Your incapacity for work was due to medical examinations for candidates for cell, tissue and organ donors or due to a donation procedure.	A medical certificate confirming this.

 

Find out what to do if you obtain a sick note from a doctor abroad

• Make sure that such a sick note contains the following data:

• the name of the medical centre (for example, a hospital or a clinic),

• the full name of the doctor,

• the date of the sick note,

• the doctor’s signature,

• when the incapacity for work began and ended.

Does the sick note need to be translated into Polish?

No, if it was issued in a Member State of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), in the Swiss Confederation or in a country that has signed a social security agreement with Poland.

Yes, if it was issued in other countries. A certified translation is not required.

What you need to do

1. Collect all the necessary documents. See What you need to prepare for details.

2. Submit the documents to the ZUS. See Where to submit the documents for details. 

When to submit the documents

Straight away – if you have all the necessary documents. 

If you wish to obtain a benefit for sick leave that has already ended, submit the documents within 6 months from the last day of sick leave. If you cannot submit the documents within this deadline for some reason (for example, you are in hospital), you may submit them 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.

You may submit the documents in three ways:

1. in person,

2. by post,

3. through a plenipotentiary. Inquire at the ZUS how to do this.

If you have a profile on the ZUS Electronic Services Platform (PUE ZUS), you may complete the application for a benefit and send it to the ZUS electronically.

Use the ZUS browser to find out at which branch you may submit the documents.

Enter your residential address to find the relevant ZUS branch.

How much you will pay

The service is free of charge.

How long you will wait

Up to 30 calendar days after you submit the documents.

The ZUS may refuse to pay you the benefit. You will then receive a decision on this matter. See when the ZUS may refuse to pay you the benefit.

How much you may receive

The amount of the benefit depends on your situation and is as follows:

1. 80% of the benefit assessment basis – for the time you do not spend in hospital,

2. 70% of the benefit assessment basis – for the time you spend in hospital,

3. 100% of the benefit assessment basis (also for a hospital stay) – if you are unable to work due to:

• an accident at work,

• an occupational disease,

• an accident on the way to or from work,

• an illness during pregnancy,

• medical examinations necessary for candidates for cell, tissue and organ donors, or a donation procedure.

You may obtain one sick note covering your hospital stay and subsequent treatment at home. Then, you will receive 70% of the benefit assessment basis for the days spent in hospital and 80% of the benefit assessment basis for the days spent at home.

How long you will receive the sickness benefit

• 182 days,

• 270 days – if you are pregnant or you have tuberculosis.

If you do not agree with the ZUS’s decision

Write an appeal to the district labour and social security court, but take it or send it to the ZUS branch that issued the decision. You should do this within one month from the receipt of the ZUS’s decision.

Benefit assessment basis

The benefit assessment basis depends on your form of employment: If:

• if you have an employment contract – it is your average monthly remuneration from the last 12 months before the day when you became unable to work. The portion of social insurance contributions that you pay must be deducted from this amount. If your insurance covers a period shorter than 12 months – then the entire period of insurance is taken into account.

• if you are an outworker or you work under a contract of mandate or an agency contract – it is your average monthly remuneration, i.e. the sickness insurance or accident insurance contribution assessment basis from the last 12 months before the day when you became unable to work. This amount should be reduced by 13.71%. If your insurance covers a period shorter than 12 months – then the entire period of insurance is taken into account.

• if you carry out non-agricultural business activities or you are a member of the clergy – it is the average monthly sickness insurance or accident insurance contribution assessment basis from the last 12 months before the day when you became unable to work. This amount should be reduced by 13.71%. If your insurance covers a period shorter than 12 months – then different rules apply to you. See the ZUS website for details.

The benefit assessment basis cannot be higher than 100% of the average quarterly national remuneration. You can check its amount on the ZUS website.

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)

Act of 30 October 2002 on social insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases (Journal of Laws from 2019, item 1205)

 

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