Need to apply for sick leave and sickness benefit? Here’s how
In the event of illness, an accident or another medical condition that prevents you from working, you may need to justify your absence from work. Between medical certificates and sick leave, many people confuse these two documents, without realising that each has its own particularities and consequences.
If you have ever wondered which one to use in different situations, or if you want to be aware of your rights regarding sickness benefit, you are in the right place to clear up your doubts
What sick leave is and how it works
Sick leave is a support measure that allows the worker to be absent from work for health reasons without losing all of their income. To do so, you need to obtain a Temporary Incapacity Certificate (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária, CIT), issued by a health professional of the SNS (the Portuguese National Health Service), which serves as proof of temporary incapacity for work. This document must be given to the employer and is transmitted electronically to the Segurança Social (Social Security), which is responsible for processing the sickness benefit.
Is sick leave the same as a medical certificate?
No. The two are commonly confused, but they serve different purposes. While the medical certificate is used to justify occasional absences of up to three days, without entitling you to any benefit, sick leave applies when incapacity for work exceeds that period, ensuring partial pay for the absences from the fourth day onwards.
You can also choose to book the appointment by phone. To do so, contact the health centre where you are registered and give your patient number. If you do not know which centre you are registered at, call the SNS 24 line: 808 24 24 24. This is useful for those who do not have digital access or prefer to book the appointment in the traditional way.
Temporary Incapacity Certificate (CIT): what it is
The CIT is the official document that confirms the need for sick leave. It is issued by SNS doctors and is only valid with the professional’s signature and the institution’s authentication. This certificate can be issued at health centres, hospitals and Permanent Care Services (Serviços de Atendimento Permanente, SAP).
Types of sick leave
There are different types of sick leave, depending on the worker’s specific situation:
- Common illness leave: applied when the worker is unable to work due to temporary illness
- Prolonged illness leave: valid for long-term or chronic illnesses
- Psychiatric leave: issued for mental health conditions that prevent the person from carrying out their duties.
Who is entitled to sick leave?
- Employees who pay contributions to Segurança Social (Social Security), including domestic service
- Self-employed workers who issue green receipts (recibos verdes) or are sole traders
- Beneficiaries of the Voluntary Social Insurance on foreign ships or research grant holders
- Beneficiaries of pensions for work accidents or occupational illness who work and pay contributions
- Home-based workers
- Beneficiaries of compensatory pensions who work and pay contributions
- Beneficiaries in pre-retirement who continue to work and pay contributions
- Pensioners for disability or old age in public service, not receiving a pension
- Beneficiaries with compensation for work accidents or occupational illness who work and pay contributions, with compensation lower than the sickness benefit.
How much does an appointment at the health centre cost?
How to apply for sick leave
Sick leave is issued exclusively by authorised bodies, such as:
- SNS health centres (as a rule, by family doctors)
- Hospitals (except accident and emergency departments)
- Permanent Care Services (SAP)
- Drug addiction prevention and treatment services.
And if you need transport to get to a health unit to apply for your sick leave? Count on Ambula to take you there safely.
Where can I view my sick leave?
On the SNS 24 Portal, in the “Personal Area” you can view various details of your sick leave, such as:
- Start and end date
- Type of record
Classification of the illness - Health unit of registration.
Sickness benefit: how much and how is it paid?
The amount of the sickness benefit is calculated based on the worker’s reference earnings and the length of the leave. The percentage you receive varies according to the duration of the leave:
- Up to 30 days: 55% of reference earnings
- From 31 to 90 days: 60%
- From 91 to 365 days: 70%
- More than 365 days: 75%.
This benefit is intended for workers who have completed six months of contributions to Segurança Social (Social Security) and does not cover the first three days of leave for employed workers, or the first ten days in the case of the self-employed. There are exceptions where payment is immediate, such as in cases of hospital admission or tuberculosis.
You can consult the Practical Guide to Sickness Benefit, from Segurança Social.
Ambula: support during your recovery
Do you need safe, comfortable transport during your recovery? Ambula provides non-emergency patient transport services and ensures all the comfort and safety you need for appointments and treatments. Arrange your transport with us and focus on what matters most: your recovery.
The most frequently asked questions about sick leave
In cases of serious illness such as cancer or tuberculosis, there may be payment at 100%, subject to assessment by Segurança Social.
Leave can last up to 1,095 days for employed workers and 365 for the self-employed, with unlimited duration for cases of tuberculosis.
Psychiatric leave is treated as ordinary sick leave, with percentages between 55% and 75%, depending on the duration.
As a rule, it is the family doctor who issues the document. From 1 March 2024, it became possible to obtain sick leave at bodies in the public, private and social sectors.
No, time on sick leave does not count towards unemployment benefit.
Yes, Segurança Social can request that the worker undergo medical examinations to prove the need for the leave.
It is not recommended. During sick leave, you are only allowed to leave home to receive treatment or within specific hours, from 11am to 3pm and from 6pm to 9pm, with the family doctor’s authorisation. This authorisation must be recorded on the CIT.
Payment of sick pay usually takes between 15 and 30 days after the CIT is submitted to Segurança Social. In special situations such as hospitalisation, day surgery or tuberculosis, the support may be paid from the first day of leave.
Sick leave must be given to the employer at least five days in advance. If the worker is unable to meet this deadline, they should hand in the document as soon as possible. In the event of a 10-day absence without justification, the employer may begin dismissal proceedings for just cause.
There is no cost associated with it.
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