In the first six months of 2025, the Social Insurance Institution recovered 150.5 million zlotys through checks on sick leave and reductions in benefits after termination of employment. It turns out that some insured people treat sick leave as an additional vacation or an opportunity to make extra money.
Sick leave is not a side job. Social Security reveals abuses
Published Aug. 26, 2025 07:29
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The Social Insurance Institution is increasingly effective in controlling the use of sick leave. In the first six months of 2025, 227,000 inspections were carried out, recovering a total of PLN 150.5 million.
During this period, Social Security withheld 14.8 thousand benefits worth more than PLN 22.2 million. In addition, post-employment benefits were reduced by PLN 128.3 million. This means that more than PLN 33 million more returned to the Social Insurance Fund than a year earlier, despite the fact that the number of checks was lower than in the first half of 2024.
Dismissal is not vacation
The Social Security Administration reminds that sick leave is not time to be spent at will, but a period set aside for recovery and recuperation. The sick person can only undertake ordinary daily activities, such as visiting the doctor, shopping or buying medicines. If irregularities are found during an inspection, the Social Insurance Institution has the right to deny the right to sick pay or rehabilitation benefits - and for the entire period indicated in the sick leave.
What are the controls like?
ZUS conducts two types of inspections. The first relates to the correctness of the adjudication of temporary inability to work. The medical examiner checks whether the exemption issued has a medical basis - he can call the patient for an examination, refer to a specialist or request documentation. In the first six months of 2025, there were 157,900 such checks, and corrective certificates were issued in 6,700 cases. This saved PLN 5.6 million.
The second type is checks on the use of sick leave. One checks whether the insured is actually resting and complying with instructions, or whether they are undertaking activities that may prolong the illness - such as working or going on vacation. There were 69,100 such checks in the first six months of the year, and they revealed 8,100 abuses. As a result, benefits worth PLN 16.6 million were withheld.
Sick at work and on vacation
Examples of abuse show that some sick people treat their sick leave as an opportunity to make money. The Social Security Administration revealed cases of people who performed hairdressing and beauty services, conducted online sales, worked as drivers or even went on foreign vacations while on leave. Among those who lost their benefits were a man working as a cab driver, a beautician serving clients at a salon, and a person selling furniture and clothes online.
ZUS stresses that such checks will continue. - Sick leave is a time for treatment and rest. Improper use of sick leave means withdrawal of the right to benefits and the need for reimbursement, ZUS reminds.
Source: ZUS
