Sickness allowances
Kela provides compensation for loss of income due incapacity for work in the form of various allowances.
The sickness allowance is paid as compensation for loss of income due to incapacity for work lasting less than a full year.
It is available after completion of a specified waiting period. It is not necessary to send an application to Kela when a sick leave lasts less than the waiting period.
Self-employed persons insured under the YEL (Self-Employed Persons’ Pensions) Act can apply for the YEL allowance for the duration of the sickness allowance waiting period. The waiting period for the YEL allowance is one day, i.e. the day of falling ill. The YEL allowance may be granted up until the end of the waiting period specified in the Health Insurance Act (1 + 9 working days).
Sickness allowance is paid on the basis of incapacity for work for a maximum of 300 working days.
A partial sickness supports work incapacitated persons in remaining employed and in returning to full-time work. In order to qualify for partial sickness allowance, a full-time employee must come to an agreement with his or her employer about switching to part-time work instead. Working hours must be reduced to 40–60 per cent of what they were before. The partial sickness allowance is available for a maximum of 150 working days.
A sickness allowance on account of infectious diseases can be paid to persons who have been ordered to stay off work or who have been quarantined or placed in isolation. It is available for as long as the order remains in effect.
Persons who donate human cells, tissue or organs can be paid a sickness allowance for the duration of work incapacity related to a medical procedure or tests carried out in connection with donation.
The amount of sickness allowance, partial sickness allowance, and sickness allowance on account of human cell, tissue or organ donation is proportional to the recipient’s annual income. Recipients of sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease are compensated for the full loss of income. See how the amount of sickness allowance is calculated.
