{"id":25740,"date":"2020-10-28T14:45:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T13:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/?p=25740"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:44:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T10:44:54","slug":"self-employed-sick-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/self-employed-sick-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"Being sick as a freelancer – Are you entitled to sick pay?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Freelancers get sick too – it\u2019s inevitable. But how do you prepare to deal with being sick? Read on to learn about a few ways you can deal with falling sick as a freelancer and you learn about whether freelancers qualify for sick pay. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like everyone else, freelancers get sick too – but unlike everyone else, you cannot simply sign up for sick leave and leave it at that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a freelancer, you don\u2019t have anywhere to call in sick, and as a self-employed person, no colleague to pick up on the work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what should you do when you get sick? And are you entitled to sick pay?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, let\u2019s take a look at a few ways you can deal with and\/or prepare for when you come down with an illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Tips to deal with sickness as a freelancer<\/a><\/strong>\n
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    1. Prevention<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Planning for sick days before you\u2019re sick<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Inform clients<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Work through it<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Self employed sick pay – Are you entitled?<\/a><\/strong>\n
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      1. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Health Insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Tips to deal with sickness as a freelancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Prevention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        As the old saying goes, prevention is indeed better than cure<\/strong>. As a freelancer, your health should be a top priority and this starts by setting up a preventative system in place. There are a few things that are critically important for your future physical and mental wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And so, in order to prioritize your health<\/strong>, start with a few basics. For e.g., eat a balanced and healthy diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Additionally, most freelancers spend a majority of their time at their desktops. You should compensate for your job-related lack of exercise with regular exercise and movement<\/strong>. Planned workouts 2 – 3 times a week can go far when it comes to staying healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy freelance life is by minimizing stress<\/strong>. Try and maintain a healthy work-life balance so as not to experience burnout as a freelancer<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n

        Join our freelancer community today!
        Create your profile in just 2 minutes and start attracting new clients.<\/p>\n\n\n

        Sign up for free<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

        Planning <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Planning for when you get sick<\/strong> might seem odd but it allows you to layout a system that is ready to deal with an unexpected illness<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Most people don\u2019t plan for when they get sick – it isn\u2019t in our nature to plan for things that don\u2019t often happen. This is why getting a simple cold can be damaging to your business – all because you were not prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        So take the time out to prepare a quick plan on how you will deal with any unwelcome illnesses<\/strong>. Perhaps having a more flexible schedule will give you a few extra days on the off chance you do fall sick. And if not, you end up completing your work ahead of schedule!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Inform Clients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        How you manage your clients is an important part of dealing with your illness. Inform your customers about your illness at a good time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In the event of a cold or flu, many customers understand<\/strong> and are ready to adjust the deadline<\/strong> backward. The only important thing is that you let them know in good time instead of simply informing them on the day of the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In the event of a long, chronic illness, work out how best to move forward<\/strong>. Would it be in the client\u2019s best interest to hire someone else? In this case, offer your customers an alternative. Refer them to another self-employed or freelancer who can continue your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Additionally, consider hiring support to help you through<\/strong>. Set up a virtual assistant who can handle customer inquiries for you via phone and email. This way your existing customers or potential new customers get feedback quickly and know when they can count on you again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Work Through It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Can you work through your illness? A common cold does not necessarily need to cut off your workflow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you find yourself in a worst-case scenario where you absolutely have to do the work even though you\u2019re sick and cannot afford outside help or a deadline extension, you might have to just clench your teeth and work through urgent work<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The emphasis lies on urgent \u2013 do only the work that cannot be avoided in any way. But make sure to take lots of breaks to help your body recover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And once you\u2019re done with the task and have met your deadline, think about taking some time off<\/strong>. Your body needs to recover without the stress from work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Self-employed sick pay – Are you entitled?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cI am self-employed, can I get sick pay?\u201d<\/em><\/strong> – this is a common concern shared among several freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The answer depends on the insurance that the freelancer has as well as the options available in the country where they live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        There are a few different self-employed sickness insurance options<\/strong> you can consider when it comes to sickness benefits for self-employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Some (private) health insurance companies<\/strong> offer so-called daily benefits for self-employed in the event of an unexpected illness. Generally, freelancers need to prove that they cannot do their job<\/strong> with a medical certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The K\u00fcnstlersozialkasse in Germany, e.g., is health insurance for freelancers in the arts and journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Alternatively, other public health insurance<\/strong> offers something called electoral tariffs. These allow for freelancers to receive their sick pay<\/strong> as early as the 15th day. You\u2019ll need to figure out what insurance works best for you taking into account your own health and workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for self-employed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        In other countries, such as the UK, for e.g., the self-employed cannot claim sick pay since there is no employer to claim it from. Instead, freelancers who are unable to work may qualify for the ESA program<\/strong>, i.e., Employment and Support Allowance<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        It\u2019s important to note that ESA isn\u2019t statutory sick pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In order to qualify for the ESA program in the UK, you must meet the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n