Sickness Benefit Calculator

How the calculation works

1. 1

   Enter weekly earnings

   Enter your average weekly earnings before the illness began, from which daily earnings are derived.

2. 2

   Calculate the employer-paid days

   The first 3 consecutive days of any sickness claim must be paid in full by the employer.

3. 3

   Calculate the Sickness Benefit

   From day 4, Social Security pays a flat daily rate (€17.21/day for a single person in 2026), regardless of your actual wage.

Calculation formula

Daily earnings × days in each phase, with the Sickness Benefit phase capped at the flat daily rate regardless of earnings

• •This calculator models the flat-rate benefit as a capped rate so the amount shown stays accurate no matter how high your wage is.

Worked example

An employee with average weekly earnings of €460 is off sick for 20 days and receives full pay for the first 3 days, then the flat-rate Sickness Benefit.

Daily earnings

€65.71

Employer-paid days (3 days)

€197.14

Sickness Benefit (14 days)

€240.94

In total, the employee receives €438.08 for the 20 sick days.

Sickness Benefit flat rates (2026)

Rates rise after 156 continuous days of sickness.

Source: Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights, Malta

Eligibility

Contribution history

At least 50 total paid Class 1/2 contributions since registration, plus at least 20 paid or credited contributions in the 2 calendar years before the claim year.

Medical certificate

A medical certificate confirming incapacity to work is required to claim Sickness Benefit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Malta's Sickness Benefit based on my wage?

No. Unlike most other countries, Malta's Social Security Sickness Benefit is a flat daily amount set by law (€17.21/day single, €25.81/day married in 2026), not a percentage of your earnings.

Who pays the first 3 days of sick leave in Malta?

The employer must pay the first 3 consecutive days of any sickness claim in full; Social Security Sickness Benefit only becomes payable from day 4 onward.

Does the rate change if I'm off sick for a long time?

Yes, after 156 continuous days of sickness the rate rises to the Increased Sickness Benefit (€25.81/day single, €34.42/day married in 2026), which is not modelled by this calculator.

Do sector Wage Regulation Orders change this?

Yes, many sector-specific Wage Regulation Orders provide a richer employer-paid entitlement than the general 3-day statutory minimum shown here, for example 20 days full pay plus 20 days half pay in some sectors.