The Act enters into force three months after its announcement. Soon, the Social Insurance Institution will be authorized to carry out inspections of insured persons regarding the correct use of leave from work (L4) in accordance with the rules. ZUS will be able to request that the person issuing the medical certificate provide the medical records of the insured person or a sick family member. The inspection will determine whether the person staying on L4 undertakes activities that are excluded during sick leave.
See also: ZUS is introducing a revolution in L4 inspections. In 2026, it will receive new tools
For this you may lose your L4 benefit
Why can you lose sickness benefit? The amended act indicates specific actions that may lead to this. This includes: about: performing paid work while on leave, undertaking activities incompatible with the purpose of the leave (except for minor activities, e.g. shopping) or activities prolonging the illness (e.g. a forced trip during convalescence). At the same time, the new regulation introduces the possibility of taking sick leave in one place and working in another (e.g. for people with two jobs – if the nature of the job allows it).
See also: She brought dinner to her husband and got married while on sick leave. No more absurd regulations
The amendment also introduces new rules for medical certification. The changes are intended to shorten the waiting time for judgments and improve the working conditions of medical examiners.
In accordance with new regulations medical examiners will be able to choose whether they want to work under an employment contract or a civil law contract. The chief physician of ZUS, his deputy, the chief certifying physician, the deputy chief certifying physician and physician inspectors for the supervision of medical certification will be employed solely on the basis of employment contracts.
The basic remuneration of medical examiners will be determined on similar principles as the lowest basic remuneration of certain employees employed in medical entities. According to the Ministry of Labor, this will translate into an approximately 25-percent increase in the remuneration of doctors in ZUS.
The amendment also assumes changes in the organizational structure of medical certification. It was proposed to consolidate tasks related to issuing judgments and implementing direct supervision over judgments in judgment centers that will be established in ZUS branches.
