Guide: How to make sickness benefits rules for the self-employed

Self-employed people and entrepreneurs are in many ways society's superheroes, but they are not protected from illness. In this blog post, we take a look at the rules for sickness benefits for the self-employed.

Can I get sickness benefit money as a self-employed person?

Yes, you are. As a self-employed person, you are entitled to receive sickness benefit from the municipality if you are unable to work due to illness. You are also entitled to sickness benefit if you have been injured and are therefore unable to work.

What conditions do I need to meet to be entitled to sickness benefits as a self-employed person?

In order to receive sickness benefit, you will generally need to live in Denmark and pay tax on your income in Denmark. You must also meet the following conditions:  

• You have been self-employed within the last 12 months
• You must have been self-employed to a significant extent. This means that you must have worked for at least 18.5 hours per week

How much sickness benefit can I get?

Unless you have taken out insurance, you can only receive sickness benefit after two weeks of illness. The amount you receive depends on your company's income. However, you can receive a maximum of DKK 4,355 (2019) per week in sickness benefit.

How long can I receive sickness benefits?

As a general rule, you can receive sickness benefit for a maximum of 22 weeks within a nine-month period. However, this period can be extended if, for example, you are undergoing medical treatment, a doctor has assessed your illness as critical, etc.  

Do I need to take out insurance to be entitled to sickness benefits?

No, you don't. You are entitled to sickness benefit after two weeks of illness regardless of whether you have insurance or not. However, if you take out voluntary insurance, you can receive sickness benefit earlier than after two weeks of illness. Such insurance can be taken out with Udbetaling Danmark. Read more about it here.

Tip! Also read about the parental leave rules for the self-employed