Sickness benefits for the self-employed

If you fall ill as a self-employed person, you can seek assistance from the public authorities. As a self-employed person, you are entitled to receive sickness benefits from your municipality. However, you should make sure to report sick by no later than one week after the first full day of absence.

As a self-employed person, however, you are only entitled to sickness benefits after two weeks of sick leave.

You earn the right to sickness benefits from your municipality after two weeks of sick leave, if you have run an independent business:

• Within the past 12 months, and have worked for at least 18.5 hours a week for at least 6 months, and
• You have worked for at least 18.5 hours a week in the past month prior to your absence.

Sickness benefits insurance for the self-employed

You can also take out sickness insurance for the self-employed, and this will ensure you receive sickness benefits in the first two weeks of your sickness absence.

Through Udbetaling Danmark, you can take out insurance that entitles you to sickness benefits from the first or third day of absence. Voluntary sickness benefits insurance also entitles you to benefits during pregnancy as well as maternity and parental leave.

Read more about being on maternity/paternity leave as a self-employed person.