This guide is based on current Irish employment law and official guidance from Citizens Information, the Department of Social Protection, and the Workplace Relations Commission. It is for information purposes only and not legal or medical advice.
Wondering how many sick days per year in Ireland you’re legally entitled to? You’re not alone. Many people are unsure how Statutory Sick Pay, Illness Benefit, and PRSI rules fit together. Especially as recent updates and paused changes have caused confusion.
This guide explains how sick leave works in Ireland, how many paid sick days you can take, what happens when those days run out, and what to expect financially if you’re off work due to illness.
Statutory Sick Pay in Ireland
Statutory Sick Pay is the legal minimum sick pay employers must provide to eligible employees under the Sick Leave Act 2022. It has been in effect since 1 January 2023.
Under SSP, employees are entitled to 70% of their regular daily earnings, capped at €110 per day.
SSP applies to most employees in Ireland and is designed to ensure basic income protection during short-term illness.
How Many Statutory Sick Days Do You Get?
According to Citizens Information,
“Since 1 January 2024, you have a right to 5 days’ sick pay a year (increased from 3 days in 2023).”
- You get 5 days per calendar year (1 January to 31 December)
- These days can be taken as consecutive days or non-consecutive days (together or separately)
- These are 5 days per year, not 5 days per illness
- If you have not used all your statutory sick days, you cannot carry forward unused sick days to the following year
Learn more in detail about Statutory Sick Pay in Ireland.
How Much is Statutory Sick Pay in Ireland?
Your employer must pay:
- 70% of your regular daily earnings
- Maximum €110 per day
Examples:
Daily pay €100 → SSP = €70
Daily pay €200 → 70% = €140 , but capped at €110 per day
Who Qualifies For Statutory Sick Pay?
To qualify for statutory sick pay:
- You must be an employee (not self-employed). Full-time, part-time, agency, and probationary employees are all covered
- You must have worked for 13 continuous weeks for your current employer before your illness begins
- You must provide a medical certificate confirming you’re unfit for work
- You have not already used up your 5 statutory sick days for the year
What If My Employer Already Has a Sick Pay Scheme?
Some employers offer their own sick pay schemes.
- If the scheme is as generous as or better than SSP, it can replace SSP
- If it is less generous, the employer must top it up to meet the legal minimum
- You cannot receive SSP on top of a better employer scheme
Was Statutory Sick Pay Supposed to Increase?
Yes. There was a plan to gradually increase statutory sick pay to 7 days from 2025 and finally to 10 days in 2026.
But the government paused this increase, and as of now, the entitlement remains at 5 days per year.
According to the guidance provided by Workplace Relations Commission regarding sick leave,
- For 2023 the entitlement was 3 days paid sick leave.
- For 2024 the entitlement was 5 days paid sick leave.
- For 2025 the entitlement remains at 5 days paid sick leave.
Illness Benefit in Ireland: What Happens After SSP?
Illness Benefit is a weekly social welfare payment for people who are unable to work due to illness and meet PRSI requirements.
To qualify for Illness Benefit from the state, your entitlement depends on meeting specific Illness Benefit PRSI requirements set by the Department of Social Protection.
You must have:
- A valid medical certificate / sick cert from a GP
- Enough Class A PRSI contributions
It’s important to note that Class S contributions do not count for Illness Benefit. Only Class A, E, H, or P contributions qualify.
Learn more about PRSI & Illness Benefit in Ireland.
Illness Benefit Waiting Days Explained
- There is no Illness Benefit paid for the first 3 days of illness, these are called waiting days.
- Sunday is not counted as a waiting day
- There are no waiting days, if you were getting certain other social welfare payments within 3 days of the start of your illness.
When Does Illness Benefit Start?
Illness Benefit usually starts from day 4 of illness.
If you have already used your 5 SSP days earlier in the year, and get sick again, the Illness Benefit can still only begin after the 3 waiting days.
How Much Illness Benefit Will You Get?
Your weekly rate of Illness Benefit will depend on your average weekly income in the relevant tax year and your PRSI class.
Average weekly earnings are calculated by taking your gross earnings (without deductions) in the relevant tax year and dividing it by the actual number of weeks you worked in that year.
If your Illness Benefit claim begins in 2025, the relevant tax year is 2023.
According to the Citizens Information:
Weekly Illness Benefit rate in 2025
| Average weekly earnings | Personal rate | Increase for an adult dependant |
| €300 or more | €244.00 | €162.00 |
| €220 – €299.99 | €191.10 | €104.90 |
| €150 – €219.99 | €157.30 | €104.90 |
| Less than €150 | €109.50 | €104.90 |
For How Long Can You Get Illness Benefit?
This depends on your PRSI contribution records.
You can get a maximum of Illness Benefit for up to 2 years (624 payment days) if you have at least 260 weeks of social insurance contributions paid since you first started work.
You can get it for up to 1 year (312 payment days) if you have between 104 and 259 weeks of social insurance contributions paid since you first started work.
PRSI and Sick Leave Eligibility in Ireland
Illness Benefit is PRSI-based:
- You must have enough PRSI contributions
- Your contribution history determines how long can you receive payments
PRSI is calculated on gross earnings, and rates can change each year, so it’s important to check your yearly record.
What to Do If You’re Off Sick
Here’s what you should do if you’re off sick:
- Notify your employer according to your contract or workplace policy regarding sick leave
- Get a medical certificate from your GP or an online doctor’s sick cert
- Confirm whether your employer will pay SSP
- Apply for Illness Benefit if your illness lasts longer (Learn more about long-term sick leave in Ireland)
- Keep copies of certificates and pay records
Understanding how many sick days per year in Ireland you’re legally entitled to can help you plan financially if you become unwell.
Quick Summary
- You get 5 statutory sick days per year in Ireland
- They are per calendar year, not per illness
- Unused sick days cannot be carried forward to the following year
- Illness Benefit has 3 unpaid waiting days
- PRSI determines eligibility and duration
- Planned SSP increases were paused
Last updated: December 2025
