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Seeking sickness benefit while working informally? Understand all the details and find out how to apply!
The sickness benefit represents temporary financial support provided by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). It is intended to financially protect workers who, due to an illness or accident, are unable to perform their activities for a minimum period of 15 days.
This benefit covers Social Security beneficiaries, including formal workers, individual contributors, special insured persons, and voluntary contributors.
To qualify for the sickness benefit, it is essential to meet certain requirements, such as having contributed to the INSS for a specified minimum period and demonstrating, through medical reports and examinations, temporary incapacity for work.
But what about those who work informally? Are they entitled to the benefit?
When applying for the sickness benefit, the insured person undergoes a medical evaluation conducted by the INSS itself or by an accredited professional. This evaluation aims to verify the incapacity for work and its duration.
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If the claim is granted, the insured person receives a monthly amount during the period of incapacity. To apply for sickness benefit without a formal employment contract, the applicant must fit into one of the following situations:
- Individual Insured Contributor: people who work for themselves, such as self-employed individuals or liberal professionals, and contribute to Social Security;
- Voluntary Insured Person: those who choose to contribute to Social Security even without having formal or paid employment, such as students, homemakers, unemployed people, among others who do not have an employment relationship.
To apply for sickness benefit, the insured person must call the INSS at 135 or do so through the Meu INSS app (Android, iOS).
How long can I receive sickness benefit?
Sickness benefit is a temporary benefit, meaning it is granted while the insured person is unable to work and may end when they recover or when the insured person retires due to disability.
Throughout the period of receiving sickness benefit, the insured person may be called in for periodic assessments to verify whether the incapacity continues.
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