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Entrepreneur’s sickness allowance – YEL protects your income

An entrepreneur’s sickness allowance is money paid by Kela when you cannot work because you are sick. The allowance is paid directly to you, even if your business stops and you have no income.

The amount depends on your YEL income

The amount of sickness allowance is based on your YEL income. If your YEL income matches your real work input, your financial protection is stronger when you are sick.

YEL is not only pension insurance. It also protects your income when you cannot work. You can update your YEL income online and check an estimate of your sickness allowance with the YEL calculator.

Find answers quickly

How much sickness allowance can an entrepreneur get? How does YEL income affect the allowance? When and how do you apply for sickness allowance? Do I get money if I am sick and my business has no income? Do I need to pay YEL contributions during sick leave?
FAQ

How much sickness allowance can an entrepreneur get?

Kela calculates the sickness allowance based on your annual income. For entrepreneurs, annual income is based on YEL income.

Example amounts:

YEL-työtulo (€/vuosi) Sairauspäiväraha (€/arkipäivä)
€15 000 about €41
€30 000 about €79
€50 000 about €91

Good to know

These are examples. The final amount also depends on changes made to your YEL income during the last 12 months and for at least one month. You can get an exact estimate from Kela’s calculator.

See how YEL income affects your sickness allowance

How does YEL income affect sickness allowance?

Your YEL income shows the value of your work in euros. It directly affects how much money you receive when you are sick.

  • For a short illness, you get YEL daily allowance
  • For a longer illness, you get sickness allowance
  • Your YEL income affects both

If your YEL income is low, your sickness allowance will also be low.
That’s why it’s important to review your YEL income regularly – even when everything is fine. Read more about social security and pensions for entrepreneurs.

When and how do you apply for sickness allowance?

If you get sick, apply for the allowance from Kela.
What to do:

  1. See a doctor as soon as possible – you need a medical certificate
  2. Apply to Kela within two months
  3. The waiting period is the first sick day + one working day
  4. First, you get YEL daily allowance for 9 working days
  5. After that, sickness allowance is paid for up to 300 working days

If you can work part‑time, you may get partial sickness allowance, which is 50% of the full amount. Read more about the allowances at Kela (kela.fi).

Do I get money if my business has no income?

Yes. An entrepreneur’s sickness allowance is based on YEL income, not on your company’s cash flow.

You can get sickness allowance even if:

  • invoicing stops completely
  • your business has no income
  • you cannot work because you are sick

The allowance is paid to you personally, not to your company.

          

Do I need to pay YEL contributions during sick leave?

It depends on how long you are on sick leave.

Short sick leave

Keep your YEL insurance valid and pay contributions as usual. If needed, you can apply for more time to pay in the online service.

Log in to apply for a payment extension

Longer sick leave

If you cannot work for several months because of illness or injury, you can end your YEL insurance.

What to do:

  • Wait for Kela to confirm the start of your incapacity for work
  • End your YEL insurance from the confirmed date
  • Take out a new YEL insurance if you return to entrepreneurship

Read more about ending YEL insurance.

Do you need more time to pay your YEL invoice?

If paying your YEL invoice is not possible right now, you can apply for an extension. You can see immediately in the online service whether an extension is available.

Find out when you can apply for an extension and how to do it

FAQ

  1. The entrepreneur’s sickness allowance is a daily allowance paid by Kela when you are unable to work due to illness. For self‑employed work, the amount is based on your YEL income.

    If you are also employed in paid work in addition to your self‑employed activity, your wage income will also affect the amount of the allowance.

  2. The YEL daily allowance is a sickness allowance for self‑employed persons. It helps secure your income if you fall ill and need to take time off work at the beginning of your sick leave. The amount of the allowance is based on your valid YEL income.

    How the YEL daily allowance works

    • Waiting period: The sickness allowance is paid after a waiting period. The waiting period includes the day you fall ill and the following nine (9) working days.
    • Duration: After the waiting period, Kela pays the YEL daily allowance for nine (9) working days. After this, the allowance continues as the regular sickness allowance.
    • Amount: The amount of the allowance is determined by your confirmed YEL income. You can estimate your own daily allowance using Kela’s sickness allowance calculator.

    Please remember

    • Your YEL insurance must be valid on the day you fall ill in order for you to be entitled to the YEL daily allowance.
    • You apply for the sickness allowance in OmaKela. A medical certificate confirming incapacity for work must be attached to the application.

  3. Yes. If you work part‑time while you are ill, the partial sickness allowance is 50% of the full daily allowance.

  4. If your work ability is reduced for a longer period due to illness, sickness allowance is not the only form of support available.

    You can apply for vocational rehabilitation if your health problems affect your ability to work. Vocational rehabilitation can help you adapt your business activities so that they better suit your current situation. Read more about vocational rehabilitation.

    If your work ability is permanently reduced, you may be granted a disability pension.

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