How this works
The sickness subsidy replaces part of your salary while you are on leave. It is not a flat percentage: it starts at 55% of the reference pay and rises in brackets the longer the leave runs. The first 3 days of ordinary illness are unpaid. This calculator pulls all of that into a single figure.
- 1
Work out the daily reference pay
From the monthly salary you enter, it divides by 30 to get the daily figure (the official formula is R÷180 over 6 months of pay).
- 2
Removes the waiting period
For ordinary illness the first 3 days are unpaid. If you tick "hospital stay", that waiting period is dropped and counting starts on day 1.
- 3
Splits the paid days by bracket
Each paid day lands in its bracket (55/60/70/75%) and the 5-point bonus is applied to the first two brackets if you ticked it.
- 4
Applies the daily floor and totals
If the daily amount falls below €5.37 (30% of IAS), it uses that minimum. Finally it shows the daily subsidy per bracket and the total.
Frequently asked
How many days go unpaid at the start?
For ordinary illness there is a 3-day waiting period: the first 3 days of leave carry no subsidy and payment starts on day 4. There are exceptions — for hospital admission, day surgery, tuberculosis or oncological disease it is paid from day 1. Self-employed workers only start receiving from day 11.
How is the reference pay calculated?
Social Security uses R÷180, where R is the total pay over the first 6 of the last 8 months before the month you fell ill (excluding holiday and Christmas bonuses). This calculator simplifies it: it takes the monthly base pay you enter and divides by 30 to get a daily reference. If your pay varied across those months, the official figure may differ slightly.
Why does the rate rise over a long leave?
The law applies brackets by duration: 55% up to day 30, 60% from day 31 to 90, 70% from day 91 to 365, and 75% from day 366. Each day is paid at the rate of the bracket it falls in, so a long leave mixes rates — the calculator breaks the total down by bracket so you can see it.
What is the 5-point bonus?
In the first two brackets the rate rises 5 points (55%→60% and 60%→65%) if the reference pay is €500 or less, or if you have 3 or more dependent children under 16 (or under 24 with family allowance). Turn on the "bonus" option if that applies. The 70% and 75% brackets do not get this bonus.
Is there a guaranteed minimum?
Yes. The daily subsidy cannot be below 30% of the social support index (IAS). For 2026 the IAS is €537.13 (Portaria 480-A/2025/1), giving a floor of about €5.37 per day. The calculator applies this floor when the calculated rate falls below it.
For how long can I receive it?
Employees can receive the subsidy for up to 1,095 days (3 years) per illness. Self-employed workers are capped at 365 days per calendar year. This tool computes the amount; it does not check the duration limit for your specific case.
DISCLAIMER
An estimate for the general illness scheme (employees), using 2026 values. It divides monthly salary by 30 as an approximation of the official reference pay (R÷180), so the real amount may differ. It does not cover every case (self-employed, voluntary scheme, occupational disease, duration limits). Not advice — always confirm with Social Security.