If you fall ill and cannot conduct your business, go to the doctor and ask for a medical certificate of your incapacity. On the basis of the certificate, you can obtain sickness allowance for the weekdays during which you have an incapacity to work. The allowance will be paid for days following the waiting period. Please note that also Saturday counts as a weekday.
Apply for the actual sickness allowance and daily allowance for the waiting period from Kela electronically within two months of the date when your incapacity for work started. Attach a medical certificate and other possible documents about your incapacity for work.
Please note that if you receive sickness allowance, you will not be allowed to work. You are also not allowed to work during the waiting period.
If you have a long-term illness, but you are able to work part-time, ask your doctor about a possibility to work part time and receive partial sickness allowance.
You are entitled to sickness allowance for the same illness for up to 300 weekdays over a period of two years, and partial sickness allowance for up to 120 weekdays. If the maximum days for receiving sickness allowance is exceeded, you may be entitled to a disability pension.