Polish workers face agonizing waits for rehabilitation benefits after sick leave, but new legislation effective January 1, 2027, mandates a 30-day deadline for ZUS medical examiner rulings.
Rehabilitation Benefits Require ZUS Approval
Employees frequently report long wait times for decisions regarding rehabilitation benefits, which are provided by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) after a six-month period of sick leave. Applicants must submit a formal request along with medical documentation, including a health certificate issued by their attending physician no more than one month prior to the filing date.
ZUS does not pay these benefits automatically; a medical examiner must verify the need for rehabilitation. Current regulations do not specify a deadline for issuing such rulings, though benefits must be paid within 30 days of clarifying the final requirement for eligibility.
Concerns Over Financial Instability
Members of Parliament Jan Michał Dziedziczak, Jarosław Krajewski, and Bartosz Józef Kownacki highlighted that some citizens wait up to three months for a decision. During this period, employees are technically on justified leave, but they receive no income while awaiting the ZUS ruling.
If the decision is negative, the applicant is left without financial support for the entire waiting period. Lawmakers have suggested that moving the application deadline earlier—so that ZUS can rule before the initial six-month sick leave expires—would allow rejected patients to return to work without facing financial uncertainty.
New Rules Starting January 2027
Deputy Minister Sebastian Gajewski confirmed that while ZUS currently recommends submitting applications at least six weeks before sick leave ends, there is no formal legal deadline. However, new provisions from the December 18, 2025, act will introduce strict timelines.
Starting January 1, 2027, ZUS medical examiners must issue rulings within 30 days of the start of the proceeding. This window excludes time spent completing medical records or conducting patient examinations. If this deadline is exceeded, applicants can file an appeal, which must be reviewed within seven days.
Procedural Improvements
The 2027 updates aim to streamline the process by allowing for single-member adjudication in the second instance and authorizing the use of telecommunications systems for remote medical examinations. Whether these systemic changes will effectively reduce waiting times remains to be seen.