How many days of sick leave do I get for a sick child?
Up to 60 days a year — and the whole sum is paid by the state, not the employer. Parents are entitled to a combined 60 calendar days a year to care for a sick child under 18. Of those, up to 40 days can be issued by the GP alone; beyond that a medical panel decision is needed. The benefit is 80% of the average daily insured income and is paid in full by the social security institute — without the rule that the employer covers the first 3 days, which applies to your own illness. It is paid only for working days: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count. Some cases fall outside the limit — quarantine, a child under 3 admitted to hospital with a parent, and a healthy child sent home from nursery because of quarantine.
📋 The rules
- Up to 60 calendar days a year for a child under 18
- Up to 40 days can be issued by the GP alone
- Benefit: 80% of average daily insured income
- Paid in full by the state — no 3 employer-funded days
- Paid only for working days
🔓 Exceptions
- Quarantine of the child falls outside the 60-day limit
- A child under 3 admitted to hospital with a parent is also outside it
- Beyond 60 days the certificate excuses the absence but is not paid
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The main risk is the exhausted limit. If the certificates exceed 60 days, the state does not pay for the days beyond it — with 70 days, for instance, you are paid for 60, and the remaining 10 serve only as a document excusing the absence, which in practice makes them unpaid leave. So plan how the days are split between both parents — the limit is shared, not one each. A qualifying period of insurance service is also required. And remember that taking sick leave for a child cannot be a ground for less favourable treatment or for dismissal.
📎 Official sources
- Social Security Institute · Temporary incapacity benefit →
- Ministry of Labour · Social security benefits →
- lex.bg · Social Insurance Code →
❓ Frequently asked
How many days can I take for a sick child?
Up to 60 calendar days a year, shared between the parents, for a child under 18. Up to 40 of them can be issued by the GP alone; beyond that a medical panel decides.
How much is paid?
Eighty per cent of average daily insured income, paid in full by the social security institute. The rule about the employer covering the first 3 days does not apply here.
Do weekends count?
The benefit is paid only for working days. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are not included in the payment.
What happens after day 60?
The state does not pay beyond the limit. The certificate still excuses your absence from work, but in practice it becomes unpaid leave.
Are any cases outside the limit?
Yes — quarantine of the child, a child under 3 admitted to hospital with a parent, and a healthy child sent home from nursery because of quarantine.
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