Frequently asked questions about Mela sickness allowance
Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about Mela sickness allowance. If you do not find the answer to your question, please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.
Yes, as long as your insurance application has already been submitted and is being processed by Mela. Your MYEL insurance must be valid or your application pending at the time you fall ill.
You can claim Mela sickness allowance in the following ways:
- Online using our e-services
- By printing out the Mela sickness allowance application from our website
- By contacting our customer service.
A medical certificate is always required when claiming Mela sickness allowance. The physician should also be notified that Mela sickness allowance is also paid for weekends. You can submit medical certificates to Mela electronically using our e-services (Send attachments).
Submit your claim for Mela sickness allowance within 6 months of the onset of your work incapacity.
Yes, at the start of your illness, it is sufficient to supply us with a medical certificate signed by a nurse explaining your work incapacity.
If you have YEL insurance for other entrepreneurial activities, you should always claim sickness allowance directly from Kela. When you fill in the Kela claim form, remember to check the box marked “Allowance for persons insured under MYEL during the waiting period”.
When calculating your sickness allowance, Kela also takes into consideration income from other entrepreneurial activities (insured under the YEL scheme), as well as income from regular employment.
The length of your sick leave determines whether you have to claim sickness allowance from Mela or Kela. You should claim sickness allowance from Kela if the length of your sick leave after the first day of illness is more than 9 working days.
When you fill in the Kela claim form, remember to check the box marked “Allowance for persons insured under MYEL during the waiting period”. Kela will then provide Mela with the information about your sick leave required for payment of your Mela sickness allowance.
The Mela sickness allowance is based on your MYEL-earnings and represents 1/514 from this per day. Employment related earnings are not considered when calculating the Mela sickness allowance and therefore the claim for sickness allowance must be submitted directly to Mela. Remember that a waiting time of 4 days is applied for the Mela sickness allowance (the day of the visit to a physician + 3 days). We recommend that you contact either your employer or Kela in regard of your employment related earnings.
No, Mela sickness allowance is not paid for caring for a sick child. If the child’s sickness is acute, the parent may be entitled to a special care allowance from Kela.
No, Mela sickness allowance can only be paid for a sickness. Burnout is considered an occupational phenomenon (Z diagnoses) and is not classified as a medical condition. Accordingly, Mela sickness allowance is not paid for burnout diagnoses.
Mela sickness allowance may be paid if the sickness is not related to the one on the basis of which the disability pension has been granted. In addition to receiving a disability pension, the injured party must have valid MYEL insurance.
It is paid to you. Mela sickness allowance is never paid to the employer.
