Self-Employed Sick Pay: Russia’s New Voluntary Insurance (2026)

Russia Launches Voluntary Sick Leave Program for Self-Employed

Starting January 1, 2026, self-employed citizens in Russia can now participate in a voluntary insurance program offering paid sick leave, a first for this segment of the workforce. The initiative, detailed in bill No. 1036780-8, aims to provide income protection during illness and increase the appeal of self-employment as a legal work arrangement.

Under the new system, individuals operating under the “Professional Income Tax” regime can register with the Social Fund of Russia to gain access to benefits. Participation is not automatic; self-employed individuals must actively opt-in and pay monthly contributions.

The program offers two tiers of insurance coverage: 35,000 rubles and 50,000 rubles per month. The corresponding monthly contribution rates are 1,344 rubles and 1,920 rubles, respectively – representing a 3.84% premium on the chosen insured amount. Annual payments are also an option, totaling 16,128 rubles for the 35,000 ruble coverage and 23,040 rubles for the 50,000 ruble option.

The level of benefit received is tied to the duration of contribution payments. Those who have paid contributions for six to twelve consecutive months will receive 70% of their selected insurance amount during a period of illness. After more than twelve months of consistent payments, the benefit increases to 100% of the insured sum.

The pilot program is scheduled to run from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028. According to the Social Fund of the Russian Federation, as of January 4, 2026, 1,121 applications had already been submitted by self-employed individuals seeking to enroll in the voluntary insurance scheme. Applications are being processed electronically through the “My Tax” mobile application, as well as through the “Gosuslugi” portal and in-person at Social Fund offices.

While the program focuses on providing benefits for temporary disability, officials clarified that it does *not* extend to maternity benefits, such as those related to pregnancy and childbirth or childcare leave for children under 18 months of age. The current initiative is specifically designed to address income loss due to illness.

President Vladimir Putin signed the law enabling this experiment on February 8, 2026, signaling the government’s commitment to supporting the growing self-employed sector. The move comes as Russia currently has 15.16 million registered self-employed individuals, as of the end of November.

The introduction of voluntary sick leave for the self-employed is seen as a step towards aligning the social safety net for this group with that of traditionally employed workers. The program also includes potential future discounts for consistent contributors, with those paying contributions for 18-24 months without claiming benefits potentially seeing a reduction in their future premium rates of 10-30%.