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Temporary incapacity (sick leave benefit)

Incapacidad temporal

What it is

Temporary incapacity benefit covers lost income when, due to illness or accident, a worker temporarily cannot work and is receiving Social Security healthcare. Under the General Scheme you must be affiliated and registered (or in an equivalent situation); for common illness 180 days of contributions in the previous 5 years are required, and for accidents or occupational disease no prior contributions are required. For common illness or a non-work accident it is paid from day 4 of sick leave: 60 % of the regulatory base up to day 20 and 75 % from day 21; from day 4 to 15 the employer pays it. For a work accident or occupational disease 75 % is paid from the day after the leave starts. The company pays the benefit at the same intervals as the salary. It lasts 365 days, extendable by another 180 days if recovery is expected within that time.

Official wording
En caso de enfermedad común o de accidente no laboral, el subsidio se abonará a partir del cuarto día de baja en el trabajo, si bien desde el día cuarto al decimoquinto de baja, ambos inclusive, el subsidio estará a cargo del empresario.

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

When

For common illness or a non-work accident, from the fourth day of sick leave. For a work accident or occupational disease, from the day after the leave starts; the employer pays the full wage for the first day.

Official wording
En caso de enfermedad común o accidente no laboral, desde el cuarto día de la fecha de baja en el trabajo.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Check the requirements

    You must be registered and contributing (or in an equivalent situation, such as receiving contributory unemployment benefit) and, for common illness, have 180 days of contributions in the previous 5 years. For an accident, work-related or not, and for occupational disease, no prior contributions are required.

    Official wording
    180 días dentro de los 5 años inmediatamente anteriores al hecho causante, en caso de enfermedad común.

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Get paid through your employer

    Your employer pays you the benefit at the same intervals as your wages, deducting income tax withholding and Social Security contributions.

    Official wording
    El abono de la prestación económica lo efectúa la empresa con la misma periodicidad que los salarios

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Attend the medical check-ups

    If you fail without good reason to attend a call from INSS or mutual-insurer doctors for an examination, the right is suspended as a precaution while it is checked whether this was justified.

    Official wording
    La incomparecencia del beneficiario a cualquiera de las convocatorias realizadas por los médicos adscritos al Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social y a las Mutuas Colaboradoras con la Seguridad Social para examen y reconocimiento médico producirá la suspensión cautelar del derecho

    Official sources

FAQ

How much is paid?

For common illness or a non-work accident, 60% of the regulatory base from day 4 to day 20 and 75% from day 21. For a work accident or occupational disease, 75% from the day after the leave starts. The regulatory base generally comes from your contribution base for the previous month.

Official wording
En caso de enfermedad común y accidente no laboral: 60% desde el día 4 hasta el 20 inclusive.

Official sources

Who pays for the first days?

For common illness or a non-work accident, from day 4 to day 15 of the leave the benefit is paid by the employer.

Official wording
si bien desde el día cuarto al decimoquinto de baja, ambos inclusive, el subsidio estará a cargo del empresario.

Official sources

How long can it last?

365 days, extendable by 180 more when recovery is expected within that time. After 365 days, only the INSS medical inspectorate can sign you off. The right ends at most 545 calendar days after the leave starts.

Official wording
Por el transcurso del plazo máximo de 545 días naturales desde la baja médica.

Official sources

What if I am receiving unemployment benefit?

If you receive contributory unemployment benefit and go on sick leave, SEPE pays the sick-leave benefit until the unemployment benefit period runs out.

Official wording
el Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SPEE) abonará la prestación por IT en régimen de pago delegado hasta que se agote la duración de la prestación por desempleo

Official sources

What about domestic workers?

In the special scheme for domestic workers, for common illness or a non-work accident it is paid from the ninth day; from the fourth to the eighth the employer pays. The managing body pays directly, not through the employer.

Official wording
se abonará a partir del noveno día de la baja en el trabajo, estando a cargo del empleador el abono de la prestación a la persona trabajadora desde los días cuarto al octavo de la citada baja

Official sources

Related procedures

Terms used on this page