Cash sickness benefits are paid to those who are completely incapacitated for work due to their own illness or accident. Cash sickness benefits are lower than the minimum wage; to meet the living standards, you must also apply for sickness benefits from a trade union or financial assistance from a municipality.
You can also get information on sickness benefits related to, for home births, alcohol and drug treatments, due to compensable work accidents and living expenses for medical treatment abroad.
How do you receive cash sickness benefits?
Application process
To receive paid sickness benefit you must:
Check that you meet conditions for payment
Getting more necessary accompanying document
- supporting documents depend on your circumstances in the last two months before the beginning of incapacity for workApply for sickness benefit and submit supporting documents
- apply electronically through the application button
- you can also submit the signed document to Iceland Health or District Commissioners Agencies
It is easiest to attach supporting documents to an electronic application when applying, but documents can also be added through Data submission of individuals. It is not necessary to submit a copy of the supporting documents, scanned documents or clear images are sufficient.
Extension of approved payments
A follow-up certificate must be submitted from a doctor.
No application is necessary to renew the extension.
Application processing time
Applications are processed as soon as possible and in the order in which they are received. Waiting times are in general:
4 - 6 weeks for new applications
1 week or less from the receipt of the data requested
3 days or less to process new certificates for extension of application
The following questions and suggestions are addressed: dagpeningar@sjukra.is
Service provider
Iceland Health