Employees · Leave and career breaks
Off sick: how much do you get in 2026? Guaranteed wage and benefits
Updated on
Since 1 November 2026, withholding tax on pay has been calculated differently (Royal Decree of 27 September 2026). The calculations on this page still follow the previous rules: for pay received from 1 November, withholding tax and net pay may differ. Update in progress.
When off sick, a white-collar worker keeps their salary for 30 days (the guaranteed wage). After that, the health insurance fund (mutualité / ziekenfonds) pays 60% of their gross salary, capped at €189.36 a day, i.e. at most €113.61 gross a day since 1 September 2026, minus 11.11% withholding tax (bedrijfsvoorheffing / précompte professionnel).
For a white-collar worker on €3,000 gross, the net benefit is about €1,600.00 a month, 71% of their usual net pay (€2,261.33).
Calculate your sickness benefits
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The first month: the guaranteed wage
| Status | Paid by the employer | After that | Then the health insurance fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-collar worker | 30 days at 100% (guaranteed wage) | — | From the 31st day: 60% of capped salary |
| Blue-collar worker | 7 days at 100% | Days 8 to 14: 85.88%; days 15 to 30: employer top-up (25.88% of capped salary, 85.88% above the cap) | From the 15th day: 60% of capped salary |
After that: the health insurance fund benefit
| Gross per month | Usual net | Gross benefit per day | Net benefit per month | Share of usual net pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €2,000 | €1,962.14 | €46.15 | €1,066.59 | 54% |
| €2,500 | €2,175.62 | €57.69 | €1,333.30 | 61% |
| €3,000 | €2,261.33 | €69.23 | €1,600.00 | 71% |
| €3,500 | €2,400.40 | €80.77 | €1,866.71 | 78% |
| €4,000 | €2,614.26 | €92.31 | €2,133.41 | 82% |
| €5,000 | €3,051.72 | €113.61 | €2,625.69 | 86% |
| €6,000 | €3,467.07 | €113.61 | €2,625.69 | 76% |
Above about €4,923 gross a month, the ceiling applies: the benefit no longer rises. After a year, invalidity benefit takes over: 65% of capped salary with dependants, 55% for a single person, 40% for a cohabitant.
Steps and returning to work
- Notify your employer and give them the medical certificate within the deadline set in the work rules.
- Also report your incapacity to your health insurance fund, within the deadlines it gives: this is essential to receive benefits after the guaranteed wage.
- A return to work, even part-time, must be authorised by the medical adviser: see back to work during incapacity.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you get when off sick after one month?
60% of your gross daily wage, capped at €189.36, i.e. at most €113.61 gross a day, 26 days a month. The health insurance fund deducts 11.11% withholding tax. On €3,000 gross: about €1,600.00 net a month.
How long does the guaranteed wage last?
One month (30 days) for a white-collar worker. For a blue-collar worker, the employer pays 7 days at 100% and 7 days at 85.88%, then tops up the health insurance fund benefit until day 30.
What happens after a year of illness?
You move on to invalidity benefit: 65% of capped salary with dependants, 55% for a single person, 40% for a cohabitant, with different ceilings.
Are sickness benefits taxable?
Yes. The health insurance fund deducts 11.11% withholding tax, an advance on the final tax. This withholding is often lower than the actual tax: be prepared for possible extra tax to pay the following year.
What next?
- Back to work during incapacityWhat the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) says about authorised work.
- Leave and career breaksAll types of leave, compared with your usual net pay.
- Notice and dismissalThe length of the notice period and the net compensation.
Sources
Parameters in force on 1 October 2026. Each parameter links to its source, the official one where it exists; a secondary source is flagged as such.
- Votre plafond salarial en cas d’incapacité de travail, de maternité ou de congé de naissance (amounts as of 1 September 2026), NIHDI.
- Salaire garanti en cas de maladie : employés et ouvriers, Securex (secondary source).
- Reprendre un travail adapté pendant une incapacité de travail, NIHDI.
- Calcul du précompte professionnel : annexe III de l’AR/CIR 92 et formule-clé 2026, FPS Finance.