Sónia is an illustrator and caught pneumonia that left her unable to work for three weeks. At first she thought “no work, no pay - tough luck”. Only later did she discover Social Security had a sickness benefit waiting for her. But she also discovered, too late, that the first days aren’t paid.
Contrary to what many people think, a self-employed worker is entitled to sickness benefit. It’s just that the rules have two blows worth knowing before you need them: the waiting period and the amount, lower than you’d imagine.
Yes, the freelancer is entitled to sick leave
When you fall ill and a doctor issues you the CIT (Temporary Incapacity Certificate - the “baixa”), that document goes to Social Security and opens the right to sickness benefit. It’s not only for those with an employer.
But there are conditions. To be entitled, you need:
Mind a detail that catches beginners: if you’re still in the 12-month exemption of your first year (contributing zero), you probably haven’t met the guarantee period yet - and may not be entitled to the benefit.
The first blow: a 10-day waiting period
Here’s what caught Sónia. There’s a waiting period - the first days of illness when you receive nothing. And for the self-employed that period is longer:
- Waiting period: 10 days
- The benefit starts being paid on the 11th day
- Short illnesses are almost entirely on you
- Waiting period: 3 days
- The benefit starts sooner
- Covered more quickly
In other words: a week’s flu gives you no benefit at all, because you don’t even reach the 11th day. Sickness benefit is a net for longer illnesses, not for the occasional days in bed.
The second blow: how much you get
The amount isn’t your income - it’s a percentage of the reference remuneration (the average of what you contributed on), rising as the illness drags on:
And there’s a duration limit: for the self-employed, sickness benefit is paid for a maximum of 365 days (for those with an employer, the ceiling is far higher - 1,095 days). Since the self-employed don’t go beyond 365 days, the 75% band (over 365 days) mainly applies to those with an employer; within the 365 days, the top rate is 70%. Tuberculosis is a separate case: it has no time limit and is paid at a higher rate - 80% (up to 2 dependants) or 100% (more than 2 dependants).
Example: Sónia and the three weeks of pneumonia
Sónia was on sick leave for 21 days. Look at what happens:
Of the 21 days, only 11 are paid - and at 55%. It’s nowhere near what she’d earn working. So for a freelancer, sickness benefit is a cushion, not a replacement for income.
Warning: the classic mistake is counting on sick leave as if your salary kept coming in. It doesn’t: there are normally 10 unpaid days (with exceptions - for example hospitalisation, ambulatory surgery or tuberculosis, where you’re paid from the start) and the amount runs at 55-70% of an average that tends to be low (especially if you contribute on the minimum). For a long illness it really matters; for a few days in bed, it barely exists. It’s worth having your own emergency fund - the benefit isn’t enough.
✅ In summary
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The freelancer is entitled to sickness benefit, with the doctor’s CIT, provided they meet the guarantee period (6 months of contributions) and have their contributions regularised up to the end of the 3rd month before the sick leave. In the first exempt year, you probably aren’t entitled yet.
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Two blows: a 10-day waiting period (you only receive from the 11th day, except in cases like hospitalisation or surgery) and an amount of 55% to 70% of the reference remuneration by duration, up to a maximum of 365 days (the 75% band, above that, is mainly for those with an employer). Tuberculosis is a separate case: no time limit, paid at 80% or 100% depending on dependants.
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With FIZ your contributions and quarterly declaration stay up to date, so when you need sick leave you meet the guarantee period and have a regularised situation - the protection only exists if you contributed in time. See the plans.
