The Ministry of Labour announced late on Sunday that the electronic applications for the Special Sickness Allowance (EEA2) are now open on the website www.coronavirus.mlsi.gov.cy (in Greek) and prospective beneficiaries can now apply.
It was noted that applicants must also submit electronically their bank account details via the separate form found on the above website (EEA6).
Prospective applicants for the special sickness allowance must fulfil the following criteria:
-The application for the sickness allowance is made by private sector employees or the self-employed falling into any of the following categories:
i. Persons that fall into the list of vulnerable groups as defined by the Ministry of Health in the press release, dated 16/3/2020 or any future review of it and hold a relevant certificate from their personal doctor,
ii. persons subject to compulsory isolation (quarantine) and self-isolation based on instructions from the Ministry of Health and holding a Medical Certificate issued by the Ministry of Health, or as instructed by their personal doctor,
iii. persons infected with COVID 19 and holding a certificate from the Ministry of Health,
iv. persons aged 63-65 years who do not receive a statutory pension and are included in categories (i), (ii) and (iii) above and hold the corresponding certificate.
-The Sickness Allowance is granted only to persons working during the period they apply for and who are insured with the Social Insurance Fund, are aged up to 65 years and do not receive a statutory pension.
-The sickness allowance paid to beneficiaries is calculated as follows:
i. For employees and self-employed persons who qualify for insurance under the Social Security Act at 60% of the value of the units of insurance under the above Law.
ii. For employees who are not eligible under the Social Security Act and are insured with the Social Security Fund for January 2020, the January 2020 salary (insured earnings) or the last salary for which there is data on the Social Security Services record. In this case a the Sickness Allowance will be paid under certain conditions, the amount of which will be determined by a subsequent decision.
iii. For a self-employed person who does not qualify for insurance, 60% of the weekly amount of his insurable earnings on the basis of the income for which he was required to pay contributions to Social Security in the fourth quarter of 2019.
iv. The maximum amount that can be paid as a special sickness allowance for private sector employees and the self-employed for a period of one month may not exceed € 1,214.
-The Sickness Allowance is not granted for periods during which the applicant receives an unemployment benefit, a special unemployment benefit, a sickness benefit, or a Child Care Special Leave. The period for which the sickness benefit is granted will be taken into account for the calculation and provision of the sickness benefit stipulated by the provisions of the Social Security Laws.
-The sickness allowance will be granted only if the nature of work does not allow remote working from home or flexible working hours.
-The sickness benefit coverage period expires on April 12, 2020.
-For the period for which the sickness benefit is to be paid, the employer is relieved of his obligation to pay the salary to employees who received that sickness benefit.
-The period of sickness allowance shall be considered as a period of equivalent insurance for the purposes of contributions to the Social Insurance fund and will be credited to the beneficiary’s insurance account accordingly.
-Beneficiaries of a Minimum Guaranteed Income (EEE) who are working and are parents may also benefit from the sickness allowance. The Child Care Special Leave allowance to be paid to beneficiaries of a Minimum Guaranteed Income will be taken into account for purposes of calculating the income considered for the purpose of paying the Minimum Guaranteed Income for the period of payment.
-This decision enters into force on 16 March 2020.
Note: This is not an official translation of the relevant decree. The official translation will be published when it becomes available.
