Work stoppages

Social Security daily allowances: amounts in 2026

Publié le 26 janvier 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Whether you are unemployed or salaried, you are entitled to daily allowances during a sick leave. The increase in the annual ceiling of Social Security and the minimum wage to 1er January 2026 will see the introduction of the Social Security Daily Allowance (SJDI). Here are the new amounts applicable in 2026.

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Image 1Crédits: vbress - stock.adobe.com

When you are on sick leave, IJSS is paid to you by the health insurance organization to which you are attached, to compensate for the loss of salary. Payment is made from 4e day off (3 days off). If the company plans to maintain the salary in the event of a work stoppage, it receives the compensation directly.

Unemployed persons may also receive, subject to conditions, IJSS to compensate for the loss of their unemployment benefits.

The daily allowance corresponds to 50% of the basic daily wage (SJB). This is calculated on the basis of the average gross wages for the 3 months preceding the work stoppage, divided by 91.25.

A salary cap is set for the calculation based on the value of the minimum wage. Gross salary cannot exceed 1.4 times the amount of the monthly minimum wage in force in the last month preceding the cessation, or €2,552.25 in 2026.

Please note

In the event of a stoppage starting in January 2026, the salary cap is based on the old minimum wage. The new minimum wage value is taken into account for stops starting from February 2026.

Reminder

The calculation of the IJSS ceiling has been amended by a decree of 20 february 2025. Since 1er In April 2025, it is 1.4 times the minimum wage, compared to 1.8 times the minimum wage previously.

For more information on the calculation of daily social security benefits, you can consult the Public Service on the subject: Sick leave: daily allowances paid to the employee.

Daily allowance ceilings in 2026

In 2026, the daily allowance ceiling shall be:

  • in the event of illness, to €41.95/day;
  • for maternity and paternity leave, to €104.02/day.

In the event of {circumflex over (Y)}, the ceilings are calculated on the basis of the annual Social Security ceiling and are as follows:

  • €240.49/day for the first 28 days of absence (60% of the basic daily wage);
  • 320,66 €/day from 29e day off (80% of the basic daily wage).

Please note

Your company may have a collective agreement specific to your professional branch, or have an internal agreement that allows you to maintain your salary even during the 3-day waiting period.

In the public sector, the treatment of remuneration in the event of illness is governed by specific rules.

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