How to apply for a self-employed sick leave. Izvestia's instructions
Self-employed citizens work without an employer and do not participate in the compulsory social insurance system. Therefore, they are not entitled to a sick leave with benefits, which is customary for hired employees. However, in 2026, this category of citizens also had the opportunity to receive a payment. Izvestia has prepared step-by-step instructions on how to arrange sick leave for the self-employed, taking into account the latest changes in legislation.
Is sick leave granted to the self-employed
The self—employed apply a special tax regime - the Professional income tax (NAP). It does not provide for mandatory insurance contributions to the SFR in case of temporary disability. This means that no sick leave payments are accrued without additional actions.
Unlike employees under an employment contract, for whom the employer pays contributions, the self-employed must take care of insurance on their own. If contributions have not been paid, you cannot apply for sickness benefits, even if you have a disability certificate.
To receive payments, the self-employed must sign an agreement with the Social Fund of Russia (SFR) and pay monthly insurance premiums. Only in this case, you can expect compensation.
Temporary disability benefits are paid in the same cases as for insured employees under an employment contract. For example, in case of illness, injury, or the need to care for a sick family member.
How can a self-employed person be eligible for hospital payments
To qualify for sick leave, the self-employed must voluntarily join the social insurance system. To do this, it is necessary:
- Submit an application to the Social Fund of Russia for voluntary entry into legal relations on compulsory social insurance.
- Pay the insurance premiums for yourself in the prescribed amount.
You can submit an application through your personal account on the Gosuslugi portal or by contacting the territorial office of the SFR. After registration, a citizen receives the status of a voluntarily insured person.
It is important to keep in mind that the right to receive benefits does not arise immediately. Payments are possible only in the next calendar year after payment of contributions. For example, if contributions are paid in 2026, you can get sick leave in 2027.
How to apply for a sick leave for a self-employed person
If the self-employed is a voluntarily insured person, the procedure is as follows:
- Contact a medical organization if you are ill.
- Get an electronic Disability Certificate (ELN).
- Make sure that the information about the sick leave has been transferred to the Social Fund of Russia.
Currently, sick leave is mostly issued electronically. A self-employed person does not need to submit a document to the SFR, but it is important to verify the correctness of the data.
How is the temporary disability allowance calculated?
The amount of the benefit depends on the length of insurance experience, the amount of contributions and the duration of their payment. The self-employed can choose the amount of insurance coverage: 35 or 50 thousand rubles.
Temporary disability allowance will be calculated from the selected amount. The amount of coverage can be changed, but not earlier than after 12 calendar months of continuous payment of insurance premiums.
Is it possible to combine self-employment and self-employment
If a citizen simultaneously works under an employment contract and is self-employed, sick leave is paid by the employer in the usual manner. In this case, no additional voluntary contributions are required.
However, payments will be calculated only from the salary under the employment contract. Income from self-employment is not included in the calculation.
All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
