How is paid sick leave and how to calculate it. What you need to know

A sick leave or "Certificate of Inability to Work" is required in order to receive temporary disability benefits. Its receipt and related payments are an important part of the social protection of workers in Russia. More about how to get a sick leave and calculate the amount of payment, in the material "Izvestia".

How to formalize sick leave

In 2024, the process of registration of the sick leave has undergone significant changes, becoming the most digital and more convenient for patients. To obtain it, it is necessary to comply with several key conditions, said the General Director of the professional legal group "AID", lawyer David Adams.

It is necessary to notify the employer of the illness in a timely manner. This can be done in various ways - by phone, SMS or e-mail. Then it is necessary to apply to a medical institution that has a license to conduct an examination of temporary disability. The modern system of sick leave has completely switched to an electronic format.

For registration, it is enough to come to the hospital with a passport, SNILS and TIN. The doctor confirms the patient's state of health and opens an electronic sick leave, which is automatically transferred to the Social Fund of Russia (SFR). It is important to note that the interaction between the employer and the SFR takes place without the direct involvement of the employee.

The duration of sick leave has its own peculiarities. The standard period is up to 15 calendar days. If after this period the patient has not yet recovered, a medical commission is appointed, which can extend the sick leave up to 12 months. In this case, every 15 days it is necessary to undergo a medical examination.

How the amount of payment for sick leave is calculated

The amount of payments for sick leave directly depends on the insurance record of the employee. There is a clear gradation:

- With an experience of less than six months, the payment is equated to the minimum wage, taking into account regional coefficients.
- With an experience of up to five years, 60% of the average earnings are due.
- From five to eight years - 80% of earnings.
- With more than eight years of service, the employee receives 100% of average earnings.

The first three days of sickness are compensated by the employer at the employer's own expense, and further payments are made from the SFD.

The minimum amount of payments varies depending on the length of the month - from 620.7 rubles in a 31-day month to 663.52 rubles in February. The maximum daily amount is 4,039.73 rubles.

When calculating sick pay, the average salary for the last two years is taken into account. And it is important to understand that, even if the employee for this period worked in several companies, the salary from all places will be taken into account.

When sick leave is not paid

There are some exceptions when sick leave is not paid. Such cases include simulation of illness, lack of medical indications, passing an examination at the direction of the military commission, arrest, illness caused by the commission of a crime, deliberate harm to oneself, preventive examinations and planned medical procedures.

The situation with self-employed citizens is particularly noteworthy. For them, sick leave is not provided by default, but there is a possibility of voluntary insurance, in which it is possible to receive benefits with regular insurance premiums.

How the category of sick leave affects the amount of payments

In addition to the classic cases of illness or injury, there are specific grounds, such as quarantine, medical rehabilitation, prosthetics, pregnancy and childbirth. Each of these categories has its own regulatory subtleties.

For example, in the case of quarantine, sick leave is paid in full; in the case of prosthetics, not only the days of treatment are compensated, but also travel to the place of the procedure. Special attention is paid to the protection of employees who have to care for sick relatives. Special compensation mechanisms are provided for this purpose - when caring for a child under seven years of age, it is possible to receive up to 60 days of paid sick leave per year, and in the case of particularly serious illnesses this period increases to 90 days.

The category of sick leave significantly affects not only the duration but also the amount of compensation payments. The most favorable conditions are provided for employees with a long insurance record, as well as for certain social groups. For example, when caring for a child under seven years of age, 100% of average earnings are paid, while in other cases the amount may vary from 60 to 100% depending on the length of service. Persons with disabilities are also given special conditions - they can be paid for up to five months of sick leave per year, and there are no such restrictions for tuberculosis.

The amount of payment can be calculated in the "Sick Leave Calculator" on the Izvestia website.