ZUS clarifies sick‑leave entitlement after employment ends in Poland

Polish workers whose employment contracts have expired retain the right to receive sick‑pay (zasiłek chorobowy) if they fall ill within 14 days after termination. The illness must be continuous for at least 30 days and the entitlement can be paid for up to 91 days after the social‑insurance period ends, but not longer than a total of 182 days of sick‑pay.

The doctor issuing the medical certificate must indicate in the system that the employee’s contract has ended, so the notice is sent only to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and not to the former employer. This protects sensitive personal data, explained by Iwona Kowalska‑Matis, regional press spokesperson for ZUS in Lower Silesia.

In the first quarter of 2026, Poles recorded 59.2 million sick‑leave days, with ZUS paying out 8.8 billion PLN in sick‑pay and 2.6 billion PLN in maternity benefits. The clarification aims to ensure that eligible claimants receive their benefits without administrative obstacles.