Social Security - Sickness Insurance

Payment of sickness benefit is subject to the following conditions:

• the insured person must be unable to work because of sickness and not receiving the full amount of his salary or wage from the employer during the period of his sickness,
• at least 26 weeks must have passed between the day on which the person became insured and the day on which he became unable to work, and in that period he must have paid earnings-related contributions totalling not less than 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount, and
• insurable earnings totalling not less than 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount must have been paid or credited to the person in the previous contributions year.

Sickness benefit is payable for at least 156 working days in each period of interruption of employment. Payment of the benefit may be extended for a further 156 working days in the same period of interruption of employment if the insured person satisfies the contributions requirements for an invalidity pension but is not expected to be permanently incapable of work.

The amount of the benefit is determined on the basis of the insured person’s average weekly paid and credited insurable earnings in the previous contributions year.

In order to be paid sickness benefit the insured person must submit a claim on a special form which can be obtained from any social insurance office and from the website of the Social Insurance Services. The claim must be accompanied by a medical certificate and be submitted within 21 days from the date on which the person became unable to work.

Further Information

• For more information contact the Social Insurance Services (Tel. +357 22 40 16 00 or via the website).

Text last edited on: 12/2007

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
Reproduction is authorised.