Not just for a sick child. Find out when and for whom you can receive the money.

• Every insured person is entitled to a care allowance if it is necessary to care for a child or other sick family member.
• Every insured employee can count on a care allowance
• A person who applies for the benefit must be employed under an employment contract, a contract of mandate, an agency contract, a home-based contract, run a business, be a farmer or a clergyman.

An insured employee is entitled to a care allowance if they need to care for a child or other sick family member. The benefit is paid by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).

Importantly, it can be used not only for a sick child, but also in a situation where, for example, a parent needs support and help during an illness.

ZUS reminds that during a calendar year, an employee is entitled to 14 days of allowance for caring for a sick parent.

Who can benefit?

• persons covered by compulsory or voluntary sickness insurance,
• also when they do not live with the parent but actually care for him/her,
• when the parent lives with other people if they are sick, disabled or cannot provide care for them for other reasons.

To care for a sick parent, a doctor must issue a medical certificate with the details of the sick person, the caregiver, and the designated period during which the employee will provide care. The medical certificate, along with the Z-15 B form, must be submitted to the employer.

ZUS points out that the condition for payment of the benefit is running a joint household with the sick person during the period for which the sick leave was issued.

However, the place of care may be either the sick person's home or the employee's place of residence. Benefits will be paid when, apart from the employee, there are no other family members in the household who can provide care for the sick person.

80% of the average salary. Not just for a sick child and parent.

The benefit is paid at 80% of the average monthly salary paid for the 12 months preceding the month in which the need for care arose. It is payable for each day for which sick leave is issued, even public holidays.

Beata Kopczyńska, regional spokesperson for the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) in the Silesian Voivodeship, points out that care allowance is also due in the event of the need to provide care to family members other than a sick child (up to 14 years of age) and a parent.

According to the regulations, the following are also considered family members:

• spouse,
• in-laws,
• grandparents,
• grandchildren,
• siblings,
• children over 14 years of age if they run a common household with the insured person.

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