Ireland’s statutory sick pay scheme pays just 70% of normal earnings up to €110 a day—capped, limited, and now on hold. Here’s what the current rules actually say about how much sick pay you can get, who qualifies, and what happens when statutory leave runs out.

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Statutory sick pay rate: 70% of normal pay up to €110/day · Entitlement in 2025: 5 days per year · Illness Benefit: €244/week from day 6

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether the €110 daily cap will be revised for inflation (Lockton)
  • Whether the 2026 increase to 10 days will proceed as originally signalled (NKC)
3Timeline signal
  • 3 days in 2023 → 5 days in 2024 → 5 days in 2025 (postponed) → 10 days signalled for 2026 (under review) (NKC)
4What’s next
  • When statutory sick pay runs out after 5 days, Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection kicks in (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection)
  • A government review of scheme impact is ongoing, influencing future expansion timelines (NKC)

Four figures matter most when you break down Ireland’s sick pay system.

Item Current value
Statutory sick pay rate 70% up to €110/day
Illness Benefit €244 per week
Minimum employment period 13 weeks
Payment trigger Certified sick leave

How much sick pay do employees get in Ireland?

If you qualify, your employer pays you at 70% of your normal daily earnings, up to a maximum of €110 per day. This rate has held steady since the scheme launched in 2023 (NKC).

Eligibility requirements

To claim statutory sick pay you must meet two conditions:

  • 13 weeks of continuous service with your employer before the sick leave begins. Service gaps of up to 26 weeks still count as continuous (Lockton)
  • A medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner confirming you are unfit to work (Lockton)

Daily rate details

“Normal daily earnings” covers your base wage plus any regular bonuses or allowances. Overtime and commission are excluded from the calculation (Lockton). The €110 ceiling applies to all employees regardless of actual earnings—so someone earning €200 a day still receives only €110 for each sick day.

Maximum payment cap

You receive a maximum of 5 sick days per calendar year under the statutory scheme. If you use fewer than 5 days in one illness, the remaining days carry forward to cover other sickness episodes before the year’s end, up to the 5-day cap (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection).

The pattern is clear: the scheme tops out at 5 days at 70%, meaning most workers receive a fraction of their normal pay for a limited window of illness.

Do I get full pay if I’m off sick?

No automatic right to full pay exists in Ireland. The statutory minimum is 70% capped at €110 per day—employers are not required to make up the difference (Workplace Relations Commission).

Company policy vs statutory minimum

Some employers offer contractual sick pay that exceeds the statutory floor—this is protected under law and cannot be reduced below the statutory minimum (Lockton). If your contract promises full pay for sick leave, that contractual term overrides the statutory 70% rule.

Uncertified vs certified periods

Statutory sick pay applies to certified leave only. Uncertified sick leave—where you are absent but have not yet obtained a medical certificate—does not trigger payment. Employers are free to manage uncertified absence under their own absence policies, which may include disciplinary procedures for repeated unnotified absences (Workplace Relations Commission).

Full pay contractual entitlements

Check your employment contract or any collective bargaining agreement. If your employer has historically provided full pay during illness, that practice may now be written into your contract, giving you stronger protection than the statutory minimum (Lockton).

The catch: without a contractual guarantee, most Irish workers face a pay cut during illness—typically 30% below normal earnings, up to the €110 daily ceiling.

How to calculate sick pay in Ireland?

Follow three steps to estimate what you would receive for a certified sick day.

Step-by-step calculation

  • Step 1: Establish your normal daily earnings. Take your gross weekly wage and divide by the number of days you normally work per week (Lockton)
  • Step 2: Apply the 70% multiplier. Multiply your normal daily earnings by 0.7 (NKC)
  • Step 3: Apply the cap. If 70% of your daily earnings exceeds €110, you receive €110 per day; if it is below €110, you receive the calculated 70% amount

Using normal daily pay

Regular allowances and bonuses form part of normal daily earnings. For a worker on a basic wage of €600 per week over 5 days, normal daily earnings are €120. Seventy percent of €120 is €84—which falls below the cap, so the daily sick payment is €84 (Lockton).

Example: €700/week earner

  • Daily earnings: €700 ÷ 5 = €140
  • 70% of €140 = €98 per day
  • Below €110 cap, so payment = €98 per certified sick day
  • For 5 days: €490 total statutory sick pay
Why this matters

High earners—those earning above roughly €157 daily—hit the €110 ceiling and receive proportionally less than 70% of their actual earnings. For a senior professional on €300 a day, statutory sick pay replaces only 37% of lost income.

What are the new sick pay rules in Ireland?

The headline change for 2025 is that a planned increase from 5 to 7 days has been postponed. The Department of Enterprise announced on 14 April 2025 that entitlement would remain at 5 days per calendar year (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment).

2025 updates

  • Entitlement: 5 days (unchanged from 2024)
  • Rate: 70% of normal earnings up to €110/day (unchanged since 2023)
  • Reason for postponement: ongoing government review of scheme impact on businesses and workers (NKC)

2026 projections

The original Sick Leave Act 2022 roadmap planned 10 days from January 2026. However, that increase is reported to be under review and not yet confirmed (NKC). The government review of scheme costs and uptake is cited as the reason for the slower-than-planned expansion.

Changes from Workplace Relations

The Workplace Relations Commission’s sick leave guidance page was updated on 9 April 2025, reflecting the confirmed 5-day entitlement for this year. The WRC guidance is the authoritative source for employer obligations and employee rights under the Sick Leave Act 2022 (Workplace Relations Commission).

The upshot

The phased approach gives businesses time to adjust to rising costs, but the slower expansion means employees managing long-term or recurring conditions may find themselves relying on Illness Benefit earlier than anticipated. If you are concerned about potential leg blood clot symptoms and treatment, you can find more information at $Leg blood clot symptoms and treatment.

How to claim sick pay in Ireland?

The claiming process involves your employer for statutory sick pay, then the Department of Social Protection for Illness Benefit once statutory leave is exhausted.

Employer process

  • Obtain a medical certificate from your doctor on the first day of certified illness or as soon as practicable (Lockton)
  • Notify your employer promptly and submit the certificate
  • Your employer pays statutory sick pay for up to 5 certified days at 70% up to €110/day
  • Payment is made through the normal payroll process

Illness Benefit application

  • Apply to the Department of Social Protection once statutory sick pay is exhausted (from day 6 of illness) (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection)
  • Illness Benefit carries a 3-day waiting period, which is reduced by any unused statutory sick leave days (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection)
  • Apply online via MyWelfare.ie or at your local Intreo Centre
  • Current Illness Benefit rate: €244 per week

Social Welfare and HSE steps

  • If your employer refuses to pay statutory sick pay and you believe you qualify, you can refer the dispute to the Workplace Relations Commission for adjudication (Workplace Relations Commission)
  • For support with Illness Benefit claims, contact your local Intreo Centre or call 0818 200 400 (Department of Social Protection)
Bottom line: Statutory sick pay in Ireland delivers only 70% of normal pay up to €110/day for a maximum of 5 certified days per year. Employees face a 30% income gap during illness and must transition to state-funded Illness Benefit once statutory leave is exhausted—typically from day 6.

How to calculate sick pay in Ireland (Steps)

  1. Get your medical certificate first. Statutory sick pay applies only to certified leave. Obtain a certificate from your doctor on the day you fall ill or as soon as possible (Lockton)
  2. Confirm you meet the 13-week threshold. You need at least 13 weeks of continuous service with your employer before statutory sick pay applies (NKC)
  3. Calculate your normal daily earnings. Take your gross weekly pay and divide by your normal working days per week. Include regular bonuses and allowances; exclude overtime and commission (Lockton)
  4. Apply the 70% calculation and cap. Multiply daily earnings by 0.7, then cap at €110. If the result exceeds €110, payment is €110/day; otherwise payment is 70% of your daily earnings (Workplace Relations Commission)
  5. Track days used against the 5-day annual ceiling. Unused days from one illness can carry forward to other episodes within the same calendar year, up to a total of 5 days (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection)
  6. Apply for Illness Benefit once statutory leave is exhausted. From day 6 of illness, Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection may apply at €244/week (Gov.ie / Dept of Social Protection)

Clarity on sick pay

Confirmed

  • Statutory sick pay pays 70% of normal earnings up to €110/day (Workplace Relations Commission)
  • 2025 entitlement remains at 5 days per calendar year after official postponement (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
  • 13 weeks of continuous service required to qualify (NKC)
  • Medical certificate mandatory for payment (Lockton)
  • Contractual sick pay exceeding statutory minimum is legally protected (Lockton)

Unclear

  • Whether the 2026 increase to 10 days will proceed as originally signalled (NKC)
  • Whether the €110 daily cap will be adjusted for inflation (Lockton)
  • Whether the ongoing government review will lead to accelerated expansion in future years (NKC)

What experts say

“Sick pay is paid by your employer at 70% of your normal pay up to a maximum of €110 a day.”

— Citizens Information (Government information service)

“Employees are entitled to a rate of 70% of their usual daily earnings up to a maximum of €110 a day for certified leave only.”

— Workplace Relations Commission (Irish employment rights authority)

“The entitlement will remain unchanged at 5 days per calendar year.”

— Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Official announcement, January 2024)

Related reading: UK pensioners PIP backdated payments

Additional sources

youtube.com, sicknote.com

While 2025 provides five days at 70% up to €110 daily, sick pay rules for 2026 in Ireland will extend entitlements further for employees.

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Frequently asked questions

Is sick pay the same as Illness Benefit?

No. Statutory sick pay is paid by your employer for up to 5 certified days per year. Illness Benefit is a state payment from the Department of Social Protection that kicks in once statutory sick pay is exhausted, typically from day 6 of illness, at a weekly rate of €244. They are separate schemes with different funding sources and eligibility rules.

What counts as uncertified sick leave?

Uncertified sick leave is any absence from work due to illness where you have not yet obtained a medical certificate. Statutory sick pay does not apply to uncertified leave. Employers may handle uncertified absence under their own policies, which can include disciplinary action for repeated unnotified absences.

Do I need a doctor’s note for sick pay?

Yes. A medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner is required to trigger statutory sick pay. Without a certificate, your absence is treated as uncertified and does not qualify for statutory payment.

How long can I get statutory sick pay?

In 2025 the maximum is 5 certified days per calendar year. The entitlement resets each January 1st, and unused days from one illness can carry forward to subsequent illnesses in the same year, up to the 5-day total.

What if my employer refuses sick pay?

If you believe you qualify and your employer refuses to pay, you can refer the dispute to the Workplace Relations Commission for free adjudication. Gather your employment contract, payslips, and the medical certificate as evidence.

Is there sick pay for self-employed?

No. Statutory sick pay under the Sick Leave Act 2022 applies to employees only. Self-employed individuals do not qualify for statutory sick pay but may claim Illness Benefit if they have sufficient PRSI contributions and meet the other eligibility criteria.

What is the Sick Pay Trust?

The Sick Pay Trust is a private scheme open to employers and employees that provides daily sick pay benefits. From July 2024, members receive €50 per day, with an optional higher tier of €125 per day. It operates separately from statutory sick pay and is not government-mandated.