How is sick leave paid for self-employed and salaried workers in 2026

On January 1, key changes in the social insurance system in case of temporary disability came into force in Russia. The main innovation was a large-scale experiment designed for three years, which for the first time grants the right to paid sick leave to self-employed citizens. The minimum and maximum amounts of benefits for other categories of employees have also increased. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

How to get a sick leave for a self-employed person

The experiment will last until the end of 2028, it is carried out within the framework of the federal law "On conducting an experiment on the voluntary entry of certain categories of citizens into legal relations on compulsory social insurance in case of temporary disability," which entered into force at the beginning of the year.

Participation in it allows those who work for themselves to receive payments on disability certificates, as employees do. Previously, this opportunity was available only to individual entrepreneurs (sole proprietors), notaries and lawyers.

To receive the payment, you must register with the Social Fund of Russia (SFR), select the amount of the insured sum — 35 or 50 thousand rubles per year — and start paying insurance premiums.

Innovations for the self-employed in 2026: sick leave and taxes

A total of 15.16 million self-employed people were registered in Russia at the end of November.

The contribution rate is 3.84% of the selected insurance amount. Accordingly, you need to transfer 1,344 or 1,920 rubles per month (3.84% of 35 thousand or 50 thousand rubles). When paid once a year, the contribution is 16,128 or 23,040 rubles. You can receive sick leave payments six months after making the contribution. The amount will depend on the length of service and the period of payment of contributions.

According to the SFR, in the first four days after the start of the experiment, 1,121 applications were received. The social fund notes the high interest of the self-employed in the new social protection mechanism. You can submit an application electronically on the Gosuslugi portal or through the My Taxes mobile application.

Payment of sick leave for employees

The changes since the new year have affected not only the self-employed. For employees, civil servants and sole proprietors, there has also been a significant increase in the limits of sick leave payments. The increase in the minimum wage followed the minimum wage.

Starting from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage has been raised to 27,093 rubles. This automatically led to an increase in the minimum daily allowance for temporary disability. Now the payment for a full month of illness cannot be lower than the "minimum".

The maximum amount of the benefit is still calculated based on the maximum value of the base for calculating insurance premiums, which is indexed annually. In 2026, it amounts to almost 3 million rubles.

Sick by the meter: The Ministry of Health reduced the period of paid sick leave from September 1

Frequently ill citizens will receive a "reduced" sick leave.

The general procedure for calculating and issuing disability certificates for employees remains the same, but taking into account new financial parameters.

However, at the same time, the State is strengthening control over the validity of the issuance of disability certificates. Starting from September 1, 2025, the Russian Ministry of Health conducts special monitoring of patients who receive sick leave more than four times a year.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the procedure for calculating sick leave in 2026.

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