In simple terms
Sick pay (больничный, bolnichny) is a benefit you receive when you temporarily cannot work because of illness, injury or caring for a sick child. Officially it is called the temporary disability benefit. It is paid to people for whom the employer pays insurance contributions: employees under an employment contract and, in some cases, those under a civil-law contract (ГПХ).
The sick note is now electronic: the doctor opens and closes it in the system, and the data goes straight to your employer and to the Social Fund. You do not need to bring any paper.
How sick pay is calculated
For sick leave opened in 2026, income for 2024 and 2025 is used (Federal Law No. 255-FZ).
Average daily earnings = (Income 2024 + Income 2025) / 730
Benefit = Average daily earnings × Percentage by record × Days of illness
The percentage depends on your insurance record:
| Insurance record | Payment |
|---|---|
| under 5 years | 60% of average earnings |
| 5 to 8 years | 80% |
| 8 years or more | 100% |
Income for each year is counted up to the contribution cap only: 2,225,000 ₽ for 2024 and 2,759,000 ₽ for 2025. That is why the maximum in 2026 is 6,827.40 ₽ a day. If your earnings were low, the benefit is calculated from the minimum wage (МРОТ): 27,093 × 24 / 730 ≈ 890.73 ₽ a day.
Calculate it yourself
Change the numbers and the step-by-step calculation updates instantly. Russian rules for 2026.
Example with numbers
Income for 2024 was 600,000 ₽, for 2025 it was 720,000 ₽, insurance record 6 years, 10 days of illness.
- Average daily earnings: (600,000 + 720,000) / 730 ≈ 1,808.22 ₽.
- With a 6-year record the rate is 80%: 1,808.22 × 0.8 ≈ 1,446.58 ₽ a day.
- For 10 days: 1,446.58 × 10 = 14,465.80 ₽. Of this, the first 3 days (4,339.74 ₽) are paid by the employer and the other 7 days (10,126.06 ₽) by the Social Fund.
- Personal income tax (НДФЛ) 13%: 1,881 ₽. Take-home: 12,584.80 ₽.
You can calculate your own amount in the sick pay calculator, and your record in the length of service calculator.
Who pays and when
- If the employee is ill, the employer pays the first three days with the next salary.
- From the fourth day the Social Fund transfers the benefit directly to your account, usually within 10 working days after the sick note is closed.
- When you care for a sick child, the Social Fund pays from the first day, and the rules on the percentage and the number of paid days depend on the child’s age and on whether the child is treated at home or in hospital.
Common mistakes
- Not telling your employer. An electronic sick note arrives by itself, but it is better to warn your colleagues and manager so that you are not marked absent by mistake.
- Mixing up insurance record and total length of service. For sick pay what matters is the insurance record: periods for which contributions were paid.
- Not replacing the calculation years. If you were on maternity leave or childcare leave in 2024 or 2025, you can write an application and use earlier years if that gives a higher amount.
- Expecting the full amount with a record under 6 months. In that case the benefit for a month cannot be more than the minimum wage.
In Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
Russia
Paid under Federal Law No. 255-FZ: the employer pays the first 3 days and the Social Fund pays the rest. The rate is 60%, 80% or 100% of average earnings depending on your insurance record; the maximum in 2026 is 6,827.40 ₽ a day.
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan the employer pays the temporary disability benefit from its own funds. The monthly amount is capped at 25 MRP, which is 108,125 ₸ in 2026; pension contributions (ОПВ), medical insurance contributions (ВОСМС) and personal income tax (ИПН) are withheld.
Belarus
In Belarus the benefit is awarded at the expense of the social protection fund (ФСЗН), and the employer pays it out. The rate is 80% of average daily earnings with an insurance record under 10 years and 100% with 10 years or more; income tax of 13% is withheld.
Sources: Federal Law No. 255-FZ on compulsory social insurance («Закон № 255-ФЗ об обязательном социальном страховании»), ConsultantPlus, Social Fund of Russia («Социальный фонд России»)