Social Welfare Sick Pay Entitlement Ireland
Since 1 January 2023, you have a right to 3 days’ sick pay a year. This is called statutory sick pay (that means the legal minimum). Sick pay is paid by your employer at 70% of your normal pay up to a maximum of €110 a day.
You must be an employee and be working at least 13 weeks with your employer before you can get statutory sick pay.
Your employer can have a more generous sick pay scheme, but they can’t give you less than the statutory amount.
Upcoming changes
From 1 January 2024, paid sick leave will increase from 3 to 5 days a year.
What is the Statutory Sick Pay scheme (SSP)?
The Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the legal minimum sick pay.
The entitlement to paid sick leave is being phased in over 4 years:
- 2023 – 3 days covered
- 2024 – 5 days covered
- 2025 – 7 days covered
- 2026 – 10 days covered
Sick days can be taken as consecutive days or non-consecutive days.
The sick pay year is the calendar year, so it runs from 1 January to 31 December.
You can get sick pay of 70% of normal weekly pay, up to a maximum €110 a day – see more about how your sick pay is calculated below.
The rules on the SSP are set out in the Sick Leave Act 2022. The entitlement to sick pay started on 1 January 2023.
Also Read : pge.com Pay Bill
Am I entitled to sick pay?
To qualify for statutory sick pay you must:
- Be an employee
- Have worked for your employer for at least 13 continuous weeks before you are sick
- Be certified by a GP as unable to work
You can get sick pay if you are:
- On probation
- Undergoing training (interns)
- An apprentice
- An agency worker
Also Read : www mtc com na SIM Registration
Do I need a medical cert to get sick pay?
Under the sick leave legislation, you must be certified by a GP as unable to work to qualify for statutory sick pay. You should be certified from day 1 of your sick leave.
You have a right to SSP from the first day you are off sick. Your employer cannot apply ‘waiting days’ before you get statutory sick pay.
How is my sick pay calculated?
Your statutory sick leave payment must be paid at your normal daily rate. You are entitled to 70% of your normal pay, up to a maximum €110 a day.
What is normal daily pay?
Your normal daily pay includes any regular bonus or allowance which do not change from week to week (but excludes overtime or commission).
If your pay changes from week-to-week (for example, because of regular bonus payments or allowance), your sick pay is the average of your pay over the 13 weeks before you are on sick leave.
Remember that sick pay is capped at a maximum of €110 a day.
What is Illness Benefit?
Illness Benefit is a weekly payment that you may get if you cannot work because you are sick or ill.
To get Illness Benefit, you must be under 66 and meet the social insurance (PRSI) conditions – see ‘How to qualify for Illness Benefit’ below.
You should always apply for Illness Benefit if you are medically certified as unfit for work. Even if you don’t qualify the weekly payment, you may get PRSI credited contributions which can help you qualify for future social welfare payments.
If you don’t qualify for Illness Benefit or while you are waiting for a decision on your claim for Illness Benefit, you may get a Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
