Slovak sick pay calculator 2026

What changed on 1 January 2026

Until the end of 2025 the employer paid income compensation for the first 10 calendar days and the Social Insurance Agency took over from day 11. From 1 January 2026 the income compensation period was extended to 14 calendar days, and sickness benefit from the Social Insurance Agency starts only on day 15.

The rates themselves didn't change — still 25% of the DVZ for days 1 to 3 and 55% from day 4 onward. Only who pays which part changed. Sick leave that started before the end of 2025 and continues into 2026 runs out under the old rules with 10 days of income compensation.

How to work out the benefit step by step

The calculator does it all at once, but by hand you'd work through it like this:

• Calculate the DVZ: gross monthly salary × 12 / 365, rounded up to 4 decimal places. If it exceeds €100.2083, the cap applies.
• Multiply the DVZ by 25% for days 1 to 3 and by 55% for days 4 to 14 — that's the employer's income compensation.
• Multiply the DVZ by 55% for every calendar day from day 15 onward — that's the sickness benefit from the Social Insurance Agency.
• Add the two parts together. Self-employed people skip the first phase — they receive the whole benefit from the Social Insurance Agency from day 1.

Why the first three days are so low

For the first three days the rate is only 25% of the DVZ, less than half what you get from the fourth day. Short spells of sick leave therefore work out far worse per day than longer ones — three days off leaves you with roughly a quarter of your usual daily income.

In practice the gap between five and ten days of sick leave is more than double, because the three 'cheap' days are spread over a longer period. A collective agreement can raise the income compensation rate to as much as 80% of the DVZ — the calculator uses the statutory minimum, so the real amount may be higher under such an agreement.

The DVZ cap: when a higher salary stops raising the benefit

The daily assessment base is capped at €100.2083. A gross salary of roughly €3,048 a month reaches that cap — above it the benefit no longer grows, even though contributions are paid on the whole income.

At the maximum DVZ the daily benefit is €55.114565, i.e. €1,653.50 for a 30-day month and €1,708.60 for a 31-day month. That's why higher earners feel the drop during sick leave most sharply — the gap between salary and benefit is largest for them.

Sick pay for the self-employed and when the money arrives

Self-employed and voluntarily insured people have no employer to cover the first two phases. The Social Insurance Agency therefore pays their sickness benefit from day 1 of sick leave, again 25% of the DVZ for days 1 to 3 and 55% from day 4. Switch on the self-employed toggle in the calculator and the result is recalculated as a single benefit with no employer phase.

Sickness benefit is payable by the end of the following calendar month, and the Social Insurance Agency sends it on payment dates by the 15th and by the 27th of the month. It's settled per completed calendar month, whereas the calculator totals the whole amount for the number of days you enter. The support period lasts up to 52 weeks.

Who pays the first 14 days of sick leave?

The employer, as income compensation: 25% of the DVZ for days 1–3 and 55% for days 4–14. Self-employed people have no employer — the Social Insurance Agency pays them from day 1.

How much is sick pay from the €915 minimum wage in 2026?

At a gross salary of €915 and 30 sick-leave days, income compensation for the first 14 days is about €204.56 and the sickness benefit for the remaining 16 days is about €264.80, roughly €469.36 in total.

What is the maximum sick pay in 2026?

Sickness benefit is capped via the DVZ of €100.2083, giving a maximum daily benefit of €55.114565. That is €1,653.50 for a 30-day month and €1,708.60 for a 31-day month.

How does sick pay work for self-employed people?

Self-employed and voluntarily insured people receive sickness benefit from day 1 of sick leave (25% of the DVZ for days 1–3, 55% from day 4) — there is no employer income-compensation phase for them.

How long can I be on sick leave?

The sickness-benefit support period lasts a maximum of 52 weeks from the onset of temporary incapacity for work.

What changed for Slovak sick leave in 2026?

Employer income compensation was extended from 10 to 14 calendar days, and sickness benefit from the Social Insurance Agency now starts on day 15. The 25% and 55% DVZ rates are unchanged. Sick leave that started before the end of 2025 runs out under the old rules.

Why is the benefit so low for the first three days?

For days 1 to 3 the statutory rate is only 25% of the DVZ, rising to 55% from day 4. Short spells of sick leave therefore work out far worse per day than longer ones.

I earn a lot — will the benefit be high too?

Only up to the cap. The DVZ is capped at €100.2083, which a gross salary of about €3,048 a month reaches. Above that the benefit no longer grows, so the income drop is relatively largest for higher earners.

When does the Social Insurance Agency pay the benefit?

It's payable by the end of the following calendar month and sent on payment dates by the 15th and the 27th of the month, always for completed calendar months.