– Every day, several residents of Lower Silesia who have not received sickness benefit from ZUS come to our customer service offices. Sometimes these people are somewhat upset because the doctor assured them that they did not have to do anything when the sick leave was issued online – says Iwona Kowalska, ZUS regional press spokesperson in Lower Silesia. – Unfortunately, there are several special cases in which the sick person has to submit an application for payment to us personally. This happens, for example, when an employee falls ill after their employment contract has expired. We simply do not know then that this person is ill.
An application for sickness benefit (ZAS-53) can be submitted electronically or in writing.
Cases in which the patient must complete and submit the sickness benefit application to ZUS themselves
- runs a non-agricultural business or is a cooperating person
- a member of the clergy
- the incapacity for work due to illness begins after employment has ended, that is, after the insurance title has ended
- is covered by social insurance in Poland due to employment with a foreign employer that has no registered office in Poland
- when the doctor issues a paper sick leave.
IMPORTANT
Until the end of November this year, a doctor may also issue paper sick leave under the previous rules, using the ZUS ZLA form. The patient must deliver this sick leave to their employer – if they are an employee – or directly to ZUS if, for example, they run a business).
They have seven days to do so. If they exceed this deadline, the sickness or care benefit will be reduced by 25 percent for the period from the eighth day of leave until the day it is delivered to ZUS.