The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) intensifys its control activities to guarantee the correct usage of public funds for sickness benefits. In the first 4th of 2024, the amount of withdrawn, suspended and reduced sickness benefits amounted to awesome PLN 57.7 million. This shows how seriously ZUS takes its task, monitoring and verifying the legality and legitimacy of the benefits paid.
ZUS checked out 35 1000 people on the medical release
In the first 4th of 2024, ZUS controllers carried out inspections of over 35,000 people who were on sick leave. The consequence was the deprivation of the entitlement to the benefit of 4.8 1000 people, which resulted in savings of over PLN 8.2 million. Additionally, the returned sickness benefits amounted to nearly PLN 4 million.
If the medical examiner of the Social Insurance Institution finds that the individual on sick leave is capable of work, the payment of the allowance is suspended and the insured individual is obliged to return to work the next day.
Types of ZUS Control
ZUS conducts 2 main types of medical dismissal checks:
- Checking the correct usage of medical exemptions: It is to check whether the patient is utilizing the exemption as intended, e.g. not moonlighting or travelling.
- Control of the regularity of the judgement on temporary incapacity for work: Doctors of jurisprudence verify that the individual on sick leave is inactive sick and incapable to work.
As part of these checks, in the first 4th of 2024 more than 101 000 studies were carried out by doctors of ZUS jurisprudence. As a result, nearly 5 000 people were cut off from medical leave, resulting in savings of PLN 3.7 million.
Almost 30 1000 people with reduced allowance
The Social Insurance Institution is besides required to reduce the amount of sickness benefits to persons who have ceased their insurance title. In this case, the sickness benefit or rehabilitation benefit may not be higher than the average national salary. In the first 4th of 2024, nearly 30 000 people across the country were reduced to PLN 45.7 million in sick pay.
Causes of Incapacity for Work
The most common reason for absence from work were:
- Musculoskeletal, muscular and connective tissue disorders (16.4% of all absences).
- Pregnancy, childbirth and midwives (15.7%).
- Respiratory illness (14.2%).
- Injury, poisoning and another external effects (13.3%).
- Psychiatric disorders (10%).
ZUS – Supervision and Control in Practice
ZUS checks are an crucial component of the social safety strategy in Poland. Thanks to these, it is possible to guarantee that public funds are utilized correctly and go to those in real need. The checks carried out are aimed at detecting fraud and preventing fraud, which is essential for the financial stableness of the system.
Control process
The classification of exemptions for checks shall be based on different criteria specified as:
- The period of incapacity to work is inadequate to the disease.
- Another discharge from various doctors for various diseases.
- Absence on examination by the medical examiner within the prescribed time limit.
- Previous cases of abuse.
Examples Abuse
Typical abuses include situations where people on sick leave take a occupation or go on vacation alternatively of resting and recovering. specified measures are incompatible with the intent of medical dismissal and consequence in the withdrawal of benefits.
Summary
The activities of the Social Insurance Institution in the field of medical sick leave checks show how crucial it is to monitor and verify the validity of benefits paid. In the first 4th of 2024, thanks to the checks carried out, almost 60 million zlotys were saved. These checks aim not only to save money, but besides to guarantee that aid goes to those who truly request it.
Importance of the Social safety System
Effective control of the Social safety Office translates into better management of public funds and increased public assurance in the social safety system. This makes it possible to proceed financing benefits for those who truly request support during periods of incapacity for work.
Conclusion
Controls conducted by ZUS are crucial to maintaining the stableness of the social safety strategy in Poland. They increase the efficiency of public spending and prevent abuse, which is essential to guarantee the long-term financial stableness of ZUS. Through these actions, the social safety strategy becomes more equitable and effective, and aid goes to those who truly request it.
More here:
ZUS goes from home to house, does checks and holds money
