Sick note, sick pay and self-certification - what happens if you are ill in Norway?
Sick note, sick pay and self-certification - what happens if you are ill in Norway?
If you work in Norway, you need to know what to do if illness or injury prevents you from working. Learn all the rules that apply to sick notes and self-certification. This will help you avoid problems and misunderstandings, and you will feel more secure if you become ill. What types of leave are there in Norway, and what money can you expect?
Sykemelding - sick note
If, because of illness or injury, you will not be able to work for more than 3 days, you should see a doctor so they can issue a sick note - sykemelding. This is a document confirming that you are unfit for work and should not work (or only partially, as explained later). Sykemelding is also required in order to receive sick pay, provided the other conditions are also met. The requirements for sykepenger (sick pay) can be found by clicking here and in the point below.
A sick note should not normally be issued for more than two weeks at a time. If after that time you are still unfit for work, you should go back to the doctor. Sykemelding can be issued retrospectively, for example if you had to wait several days for an appointment.
The sick note should be delivered to your employer as soon as possible.
- If you received it on paper, you must deliver it in person.
- If you received it electronically, you can do this using the NAV website.
If you work for several employers, a sykemelding should be issued for each of them, unless you can continue working at one of the workplaces. If you receive a sick note for one of two employers, you cannot work only for that employer. The same applies if you have three or more employers. A separate sick note should be issued for each employer if you cannot continue working for each of them.
Partial sick note
It is possible for your sick note to apply only partially (at least 20%), which must be specified and marked by the doctor. What does this mean? In such a situation, you are still able to perform your job duties, but for a shorter time and less intensively. In other words: if you are granted 30% sick leave, this means you should work 30% fewer hours and carry out about 30% fewer tasks. It does not matter whether you work full-time or part-time - your average daily working time should be reduced by the same percentage as on your sick note.
Sykepenger - sick pay
If you are on sick leave, you usually cannot work, which means you lose income. To avoid leaving you without means of support, you may receive sick pay if you meet a few conditions. It can cover up to 100% of your average earnings from the last 3 months. To receive sick pay, you must meet 4 conditions:
1. You must be a member of the Norwegian social security system. It is enough that you work or run a business in Norway.
2. You must have worked for at least 4 weeks immediately before reporting the illness. This includes time worked in another EEA country.
3. You must have earned income corresponding to at least 1/2 of the basic amount G. This amount changes and from May 2022 it is 111.477 kr, so your income must be at least 55.738,5 kr.
4. You must be unable to work because of illness or injury. This must be justified, as determined by a doctor or by self-certification (egenmelding, mentioned in the point below).
If you meet these conditions, the employer should pay the first 16 days of sick leave. After 16 days, the NAV period begins. During this period, the office takes into account income from 3 months, but compares it with the average from the last 12 months and determines the best reflection of your income.
If you run a business, the first 16 days do not apply to you - then you will receive payment from NAV from the 17th day of illness. You will be paid 80% of your basic salary.
You can receive the benefit from the first day of illness for up to 52 weeks, that is for a maximum of one year. It does not matter whether you are on partial or full sick leave. IMPORTANT RULE: Periods of illness are added together over the previous 3 years if there is less than 26 weeks between them. So if you were ill for 8 weeks, then returned to work for 3 months and then went on another sick leave, you are entitled to a maximum of 44 weeks of benefit. To regain the full benefit period, at least 26 weeks must pass since the last illness.
Sykepenger is fully taxable benefit and tax is always deducted in advance.
What if I am not entitled to sykepenger?
If illness or injury prevents us from returning to work after using up 52 weeks of sick pay, or if we were not entitled to it at all, we can apply for Arbeidsavklaringspenger (AAP). You can read more here by clicking.
Egenmelding - self-certification
In the first sentence in the sykemelding section, we mentioned that it should be used when illness prevents us from working for at least 3 days. What then if we are able to return to work sooner? We can then use egenmelding.
Egenmelding is a self-declaration of inability to work due to illness, injury or the need to care for a child. A self-certification does not need to be confirmed by a doctor. In total, we have 12 days at our disposal, up to 4 times and a maximum of 3 calendar days at a time.
With several reports within a period shorter than 16 days, the sick leave days are added together. Example: you used two days of egenmelding, and after a week you need to use it again - you only have one day left. If you use it, you will lose the second of the 4 available egenmelding periods. It also does not matter how many days you use in one self-certification - you can do this a maximum of 4 times.
Legally, there are no requirements for submitting egenmelding, so the employer should specify how this works in your company. The employer is also obliged to pay 100% of your salary for the period of self-certification.