Calling in sick
Last updated: 27 1 2020
If you become ill you may be entitled to compensation. The rules are different if you are employed or a jobseeker, or if you are on parental leave. The rules also vary a bit depending on how long you are sick for.
If you become ill and need to call in sick you may be entitled to sickness benefit from Försäkringskassan. Sickness benefit is a temporary compensation, intended to compensate for lost earnings until you are well and able to work again.
How much you receive in sickness benefit depends on your income. The rules vary depending on whether you are unemployed, employed, or self-employed.
When you apply for sickness benefit from Försäkringskassan you have to include a doctor's certificate with your application, which explains why you are unable to work. Försäkringskassan will then make an assessment of whether the requirements for sickness benefit are fulfilled or not.
In order to be entitled to sickness benefit you have to be sick for at least a quarter of the time you would have worked, looked for work, or been on parental leave. You also have to be insured in Sweden.
Assessing the right to compensation
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SGI
How much you receive in sickness benefit is based on your SGI (sjukpenninggrundande inkomst, or income qualifying for sickness benefit). Försäkringskassan determines your SGI on the basis of how much money you earn per year.
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If you are employed and become ill
If you are employed and become ill you have to call in sick to your employer. The first day that you are ill is a qualifying day, which means that you do not receive any compensation for that day. On day 2–14 your employer will pay you sick pay, which is 80 % of your ordinary wage. Your employer may require a doctor's certificate explaining why you are unable to work, but usually no certificate is needed for the first seven days of a sickness period.
After the 14th day you can apply for sickness benefit from Försäkringskassan.
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If you are a jobseeker and become ill
As a jobseeker you may also be entitled to sickness benefit if you become ill and therefore cannot look for or accept work. As a jobseeker you may be entitled to sickness benefit right from the beginning of the sickness period. In that case you have to call in sick using Försäkringskassan's self-service system.
You have to be registered as a jobseeker at Arbetsförmedlingen in order to be entitled to sickness benefit as a jobseeker.
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If you become ill during parental leave
If you become ill and are unable to look after your child during your parental leave, you may be entitled to receive sickness benefit instead of parental allowance. In order for you to receive sickness benefit when you are on parental leave your ability to care for your child has to be reduced by at least 25 per cent due to your illness, and you have to have an established SGI, income qualifying for sickness benefit.
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If you are self-employed and become ill
If you are self-employed and become ill you may also be entitled to sickness benefit.
If your company is a private limited company you are regarded as an employee of your own company. This means that your company pays you sick pay instead of ordinary pay during the first 14 days that you are sick. You can then apply for sick pay.
If you have a sole proprietorship you can decide for yourself how many qualifying days you want to have. If you don't choose a specific number of days, the default option is 7 qualifying days.
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Activity compensation
Activity compensation is intended for people aged between 9 and 30 who due to illness, injury or functional impairment are unlikely to be able to work full time for at least a year. You may also be entitled to activity compensation if you need to extend your education due to illness or functional impairment.
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Sickness compensation
Sickness compensation is intended for people aged between 19 and 64 who have an illness or functional impairment that means they will never be able to work, now or in the future.
