Starting this year, an experiment on voluntary insurance for self-employed individuals against temporary disability has begun in Russia. Under this program, payers of the professional income tax will be entitled to a paid sick leave. In the first three weeks of January, 5,600 self-employed individuals registered for the program with the Social Fund.
About 70% of them opted for the higher insured amount based on which sick leave payouts will be provided. As per the rules, that amount can be RUB 35,000 or 50,000. The higher the amount, the larger the payout upon the onset of an illness.
To qualify for sick leave payments, contributions shall be paid either monthly or as a lump sum for the entire year. The contribution rate is 3.84% of the chosen annual benefit amount. Consequently, a required monthly contribution would be RUB 1,344 or RUB 1,920 (3.84% of RUB 35,000 or RUB 50,000, respectively). If paid annually, the contribution stands at RUB 16,128 or RUB 23,040 (the total of monthly contributions for 12 months).
A self-employed individual will be able to receive sick leave benefits six months after making an annual contribution or following continuous payment of monthly contributions. The sick leave benefit amount will depend on their work duration and the contribution payment period.
The Social Fund will notify the self-employed individual once their entitlement to sick leave benefits arises. Benefit notices will also be sent right after closing sick leave certificates.
Please note that the ongoing experiment applies only to sick leave benefits for self-employed individuals and does not affect maternity allowances for pregnancy and childbirth or child care entitlements for children under 15 months.