ZUS halts 10.5k sickness payouts in six months

15 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

ZUS stopped sickness benefits for 10.5k cases in H1 2026, affecting Warsaw-area workers and expats. Read why it matters.

In the first half of 2026, ZUS stopped sickness benefits in 10,500 cases as the social insurer intensified checks. Consequently, the institution ran 219,700 inspections and flagged more than PLN 18.5 million in contested payments.

ZUS stopped sickness benefits appears more often in Mazovia, where residents accounted for a record 33.5 million days on sick leave. Therefore, Warsaw and its suburbs face the greatest scrutiny.

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Numbers, regions and what the figures mean

ZUS (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, the Polish social insurance institution) conducted 219,700 checks in H1 2026. Moreover, it issued 10,500 decisions that paused sickness-pay disbursements. Consequently, ZUS questioned around PLN 18.5 million. In addition, one decision removed benefits worth about PLN 1,800 on average. However, this enforcement level remains lower than in 2024. Then, ZUS ran almost 486,400 checks and froze 36,600 payments.

Why Mazovia shows the highest absentee days

Mazovia recorded 33.5 million absence days. Moreover, Warsaw pays higher average wages. Therefore, more people fall into ZUS rules that limit benefit bases to national average wages. In addition, ZUS must apply the limit automatically when someone falls ill after employment ends. Consequently, that accounting can inflate the headline sums by law, rather than by fraud.

Regional effectiveness of checks

Regions vary in success rates. For example, Kujawsko-Pomorskie performed over 15,000 checks. As a result, authorities halted 534 benefits there, totaling PLN 920,600. In Podlaskie, inspectors ran more than 6,400 checks. Consequently, they stopped 163 payments worth PLN 183,800. Moreover, Pomorskie revoked benefits in one of fourteen inspections. Therefore, effectiveness ranges from roughly 2.5% to 4.5% of cases.

What employers can do and new rules

Employers with more than 20 insured workers can start checks themselves. Moreover, since 13 April 2026 firms may verify employees during the employer-paid sick-pay period. Therefore, employers will likely hire private firms to do field checks. In addition, from 1 January 2027 sick leave will cover only one workplace. Consequently, moonlighting while on L4 could end benefits for all jobs that provide insurance.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If ZUS or an employer inspects your sick leave, you will get a two-copy protocol. Therefore, sign and keep one copy. You have seven days to lodge objections, and you should attach evidence like appointment notes or travel receipts. In addition, if ZUS issues a negative decision, you can appeal to the labour and social insurance court within one month. ZUS means Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych. Also NFZ refers to the National Health Fund which runs public healthcare, and PESEL denotes the national ID number used in many procedures. Finally, avoid responding to work emails or doing paid work while on sick leave, because those activities often trigger benefit suspension.

Practical examples from checks show common problems. For instance, inspectors find people working in their businesses, travelling on holidays, or posting event photos online. Therefore, ZUS often removes benefits for the whole certified period. Moreover, the institution can demand repayment of disbursed sums. However, courts do hear appeals and courts charge no fees for the insured person.

For expats, the key takeaway is clear. Employers and ZUS now verify sick leave more actively. Therefore, document medical visits and avoid work-related tasks while certified sick. In addition, consult a lawyer or contact your local ZUS branch for personalised advice.

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