Sick Pay Calculator Hungary 2026 – How Much Do You Receive?

Sick leave vs. sick pay – key differences

Concrete example: HUF 500,000 gross, 20 days ill

Hospitalisation: reduced sick pay

If the incapacity for work involves in-patient (hospital) care, sick pay is a flat 50% of the sick-pay base – regardless of whether you have the 730 days of continuous insurance. So someone who would otherwise get 60% receives 50% for the hospital days; someone already on 50% is not reduced further. However, work accident sick pay is always 100%, regardless of social security coverage.

How much sick pay is due in 2026?

The amount of sick pay depends on the length of insured time and whether hospital treatment is involved. Under the general rule, sick pay is 60% of the daily average earnings if the insured person has at least two years of continuous insurance. If the continuous insured period is shorter than two years, or if the incapacity arises during hospital care, sick pay is 50% of the daily average earnings.

The daily average earnings are calculated based on income in the period before the incapacity. Importantly, sick pay also has an upper limit: no more than one-thirtieth of twice the minimum wage may be paid per day, which caps the sick pay of higher earners. This ceiling rises each year with the minimum wage.

The difference between sick leave and sick pay

Many people confuse sick leave and sick pay, but these are two different things. Sick leave (betegszabadság) applies to the first 15 working days of the calendar year, during which the employer pays 70% of the absence pay. Only after these 15 days does sick pay take effect, financed by the health insurance fund and partly by the employer.

For the sick-leave period, therefore, a higher amount — 70% of absence pay — is due, while sick pay is lower, at 50-60%. This difference means that for a longer illness, the first three weeks are financially more favourable than the period that follows. Sick leave resets each year, so the 15 working days are available again in every calendar year.

Child-care sick pay

Separate rules apply to sick pay for caring for a sick child. A parent is entitled to child-care sick pay for a period depending on the child's age, if the sick child must be cared for at home. The eligibility period decreases with the child's age: longer for very young children, shorter for school-age children.

Child-care sick pay is also 50-60% depending on the insured period, like the individual's own sick pay. The entitlement applies to both parents, but only one of them may use it at a time for the same child. This system helps parents remain financially secure while caring for their child during illness.

Frequently asked questions

Is tax payable on sick pay?

Yes, sick pay is income subject to personal income tax, from which 15% is deducted. However, no social security contribution is payable on it, so the net amount is more favourable than the deduction rate alone would suggest.

Are entrepreneurs entitled to sick pay?

Yes, if the entrepreneur pays the social security contribution, they are entitled to sick pay. The amount is set based on the declared income, so the minimum contribution base yields minimum sick pay.

How long does it take to receive sick pay?

Sick pay is paid in arrears, after the incapacity is certified, typically in the month following the reference month. The exact timing depends on the administration of the employer and the payment office.

Worked calculation example

Consider an employee with a gross monthly salary of 500,000 HUF who has been continuously insured for more than two years and is incapacitated for 20 working days. The first 15 working days count as sick leave, during which the employer pays 70% of the absence pay — around 16,100 HUF per day, roughly 241,500 HUF for 15 days. On days 16–20, sick pay applies at 60% of daily average earnings, about 13,800 HUF per day, roughly 69,000 HUF for five days. Over the full 20-day incapacity, this totals around 310,500 HUF gross, from which the 15% income tax is still deducted. This shows why knowing the difference between sick leave and sick pay matters.

Summary and legal background

The sick pay system is governed by the Hungarian act on the benefits of compulsory health insurance. Insured employees are entitled to partial replacement of their income in case of incapacity, ranging from 50% to 60% depending on the insured period. The aim of the system is to ensure that no one is left without income during illness.

To calculate the exact sick pay amount, it is important to understand the difference between sick leave and sick pay, the method of calculating daily average earnings, and the upper limit. The calculator helps you quickly estimate the benefit you can expect for a given period of incapacity, so you can plan your finances ahead.