Legal basis

Persons who are covered by insurance against accidents at work are included in the Act on the social insurance system of 13 October 1998 (Journal of Laws from 2015, item 121 with later amendments), whereas the rules for granting and disbursing benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases are included in the Act on social insurance against accidents at work and occupational disease of 30 October 2002 (Journal of Laws from 2015, item 1242 with later amendments).

Contribution level

The contribution for insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases is entirely paid by contribution payers (employers). The amount of this contribution is diversified and depends on the size of the contribution payer’s enterprise and occupational risks and their possible consequences that are characteristic of a given workplace. The contribution is set for the next contributory year that lasts from April 1 of a given year to March 31 of the next year.

Types of benefits from insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases

The insured persons are entitled to the following benefits payable in respect of accidents at work or occupational diseases:

- sickness allowance - for an insured person whose work incapacity is the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease. It is granted irrespective of the period in which the person has been covered by insurance against accidents, from the first day of work incapacity that is the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease. It amounts to 100% of the basis of contribution rates.

- health rehabilitation benefit - for an insured person whose right to receive sickness allowance has expired but who is still unable to perform work, and the further treatment or health  rehabilitation promise the recovery of work capacity. It is granted for the maximum period of 12 months. It amounts to 100% of the basis of the contribution rates.

- compensatory allowance - for an insured person who is an employee and whose monthly remuneration has been reduced due to a permanent or long-lasting health damage. Compensatory allowance is payable at the amount that equals the difference between the average monthly remuneration set forth for the calculation of the basis of contribution rates of the sickness allowance, and the monthly remuneration for a job performed at the time of occupational rehabilitation.

- lump-sum work-injury compensation for an insured person who suffered a permanent or long term health damage. It is calculated according to fixed rates for each percentage point of health damage. It is determined at a fixed percentage rate with regard to the average monthly remuneration earned in the previous year. It amounts to 20% of the average remuneration earned in the previous year.

- lump-sum work-injury compensation for family members of a deceased insured person or a disability pensioner. It is set forth with regard to a multiplied amount of the average remuneration earned in the previous year. For instance, a lump-sum compensation for a spouse or a child is granted at the rate of 18-fold the average remuneration.

- work incapacity pension - for an insured person who has become unable to perform work due to an accident at work or an occupational disease. It is granted irrespective of the length of the documented contributory and non-contributory periods; it is granted even if an accident has occurred on the first day of employment. The basis of contribution rates for the pension is determined in compliance with the general rules set for work incapacity pensions, but the pensions disbursed for accidents at work cannot be lower than:

• 60% of the basis of contribution rates - for a person with partial work incapacity
• 80% of the basis of contribution rates - for a person with full work incapacity.

The work incapacity pension, payable from the labour accident insurance, cannot be lower than 120% of the lowest disability pension disbursed from disability pension insurance.

- training pension - for an insured person who was stated to be a reasonable candidate for  professional training due to work incapacity in the previously performed  occupation as a result of an accident at work or an occupational disease. It is granted for the period of six months. The training pension period can be extended by the time needed for the training, however not more than by 30 months. It amounts to 100% of the basis of contribution rates and cannot be lower than 120% of the lowest pension disbursed from disability pension insurance. 

- survivor's pension - for family members of the deceased insured person or of a disability pensioner entitled to the pension disbursed for an accident at work or an occupational disease. It amounts to:

• for one entitled person: 85% of the benefit to which the deceased person would be entitled,
• for two entitled persons - 90% of the benefit
• for three or more entitled persons - 95% of the benefit.

The survivor's pension cannot be lower than 120% of the lowest pension disbursed from disability pension insurance.

- supplement to survivor's pension - granted to an orphan.

- nursing supplement - granted to a person entitled to a pension from the insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases who has become completely  incapable of work and unable to exist independently,

- coverage of the costs related to dental treatment and preventive vaccinations and providing orthopaedic articles in the range stipulated by the law.