Many people do not realise that the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) provides paid leave for caring for a sick spouse or other family member. The benefit is available to employees, contractors and self-employed individuals, provided they meet two key conditions.
The first condition is having health insurance. For those employed under an employment contract, this is automatically covered. Self-employed individuals must document that they pay sickness insurance contributions (either mandatory or voluntary). The second condition is that the person being cared for must live in the same household as the caregiver, and there must be no other person available to provide care.
Who is considered a family member and how much can you get
According to the Sickness Benefit Act, a family member includes a spouse, parent of a child, parents-in-law, grandparents, siblings, and children over 14 years old – provided they live together with the insured person. – The act defines who qualifies as a family member for whom one can apply for sick leave – reports Business Insider Polska.
The maximum number of paid care days is 60 per year. However, if all household members are over 14, the limit drops to just 14 days per year. The benefit amounts to 80 percent of the assessment base – calculated from the last 12 months of earnings for employees, or from the income on which the self-employed person pays contributions. Importantly, the allowance is also paid for public holidays.
How to apply for the care allowance
The basis for payment is a medical certificate (ZUS ZLA or an e-sick leave) and a completed ZUS Z-15 form. Employees submit these documents to their employer, while self-employed individuals send them directly to ZUS. If a company employs more than 20 people, the employer pays the benefit; otherwise, ZUS handles the payment.
This care allowance applies to both sudden illnesses and planned hospital stays of a relative. The key is to ensure all conditions – especially the shared residence and the absence of another caregiver – are met before applying.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Remigiusz Gora / Shutterstock
