What is sick leave?
Sick leave, also known as Temporary Incapacity Certificate (CIT), is the document that certifies incapacity to work for a period of time due to illness. This certificate can be an initial sick leave (start of incapacity) or an extension (prolongation) of sick leave.
With the issue of sick leave, you can receive sick pay, which is monetary compensation for the loss of pay resulting from the days you are absent from work.
Who can take sick leave?
Doctors in public health centers and hospitals, and doctors in private hospitals or clinics, if they have the proper authorization to do so. Prevention and treatment services for drug addiction in the social sector are also authorized to take sick leave.
Dr.Online is one of the entities authorized to issue sick leave (Temporary Incapacity Certificates - CITs).
Is it possible to request sick leave online?
Yes, it is possible to request sick leave online. If you speak to a doctor via video consultation and it is proven that you need to take time off work due to illness, the doctor will send you the sick leave electronically. The sick leave is sent to the Social Security office automatically.
Find out how to get a sick note online at Dr.Online.
In which cases am I eligible for sick leave?
The Online Medical Certificate (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária) can be issued if you meet one of the following conditions:
- Natural illness
- Psychiatric illness
- Illness of a family member who needs assistance
- Pregnancy at risk
- Occupational illness
- Accident at work
- Surgeries
- Hospitalization
What is the waiting time for sick leave?
As soon as your need to take time off work is proven, through a face-to-face or online consultation, the doctor will be able to issue the sick note immediately. It will also be sent automatically to Social Security.
Where can I check my sick leave?
You can check your sick leave on the SNS 24 portal:
- Log in to your personal area
- In the "I need" section, click on "Consult sick leave"
And also on the SNS 24 mobile app:
- Go to your personal area by clicking on the icon on the right-hand side of the horizontal menu in the footer
- Click on "Declarations"
- Click on "Sick leave"
What is the difference between sick leave and a medical certificate?
The medical certificate certifies incapacity for work due to illness, just like sick leave, but only for a maximum of 3 days. A doctor's certificate does not entitle you to sick pay; sick pay can only be paid once a doctor's certificate has been issued.
How much does sick leave pay?
Sick leave entitles you to monetary compensation for the loss of pay resulting from the days you are absent from work, known as sick pay.
This payment amount varies depending on your reference pay (RR) and the days included in your sick leave:
- Up to 30 days of sick leave: receives 55% of RR
- From 31 to 90 days of sick leave: receives 60% of RR
- From 91 to 365 days of sick leave: receives 70% of the RR
- More than 365 days of sick leave: receives 75% of RR
With the exception of cases of tuberculosis, the figures are calculated based on the number of dependent family members in your household:
- Up to 2 family members: 80% of RR
- More than 2 family members: 100% of the RR
You can get a 5% increase if your RR is 55% or 60% and you are in one of these situations:
- RR equal to or less than €500
- Household with 3 or more children aged up to 16, or up to 24 if they receive family allowance
- Household with a child receiving a child benefit disability allowance
How do I calculate my sick pay?
To calculate how much you will receive in sick pay, you first need to calculate your reference pay (RR).
Do the following math:
- Add up the earnings declared to Social Security (gross salary) for the first 6 months of the 8 months prior to the month in which you stopped working. Christmas and vacation bonuses do not count.
- Divide the result by 180 (that's 180 days, or 6 months). With this division, you will know the daily value of your RR.
You can now calculate the amount of your sickness benefit. Do the following calculations:
- Multiply the daily value of your RR by the percentage attributed to the days of your sick leave. For example, if your sick leave indicates a period of absence of 31 to 90 days, multiply by 0.6 (not 60%). With this multiplication, you will know the daily value of the allowance.
- To find out the total amount of the payment, multiply the daily amount of the allowance by the total number of days included in your sick leave.
Who can receive sick pay?
- Employees (including domestic workers in this category). Public administration workers are excluded.
- Self-employed workers who pay social security contributions.
- People enrolled in Voluntary Social Insurance, if they pay the 0.5% for occupational illness.
However, in order to receive sick pay, they must have the following elements in place:
- Certificate of Temporary Incapacity (CIT) for work, which is the same as sick leave. You can only get sick leave if you have a valid User Number. If you don't have a valid User Number, you can only get a Medical Certificate of Sickness.
- Social Security contributions up to date, in the case of employees. If your employer isn't paying the contributions, you're only entitled to sick pay if you notified Social Security when you started working for them.
- Social Security contributions up to date, up to 3 months in advance, in the case of self-employed workers and beneficiaries of Voluntary Social Security.
How do I submit my sick leave to Social Security?
As soon as the doctor issues the sick note, a copy is automatically sent to Social Security. Sick leave is delivered on paper except in cases of force majeure, which prevent the doctor from transmitting it to Social Security electronically.
When do I get sick pay?
Employees receive sick pay from the 4th day of incapacity for work (a 3-day waiting period), and self-employed workers from the 11th day (a 10-day waiting period). Beneficiaries of the Voluntary Social Insurance receive payment from the 31st day (30-day waiting period).
Payment of sick leave begins on the 1st day of incapacity for work in the case of hospitalization or outpatient surgery, and in the case of illness that begins during the period of parental benefit that exceeds this period.
