The situation in which a recent graduate has to take sick leave just as they are starting their career is not uncommon. Let’s examine a concrete example to understand what benefits a young professional can expect.

Scenario: A woman graduated from college in June 2025. Due to family circumstances, she did not work for a year. In July 2026, she was hired full‑time, and in August she sustained a home injury and was on sick leave for 17 days from August 9 to 25.

Question: What amount of temporary disability benefit will the employee receive?

Answer provided by senior inspector Anastasia Komarova of the Cherikovsky District Office of the Mogilev Regional Administration of the National Social Protection Fund.

— The benefit will be set at the minimum amount. According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 742, young workers who were studying full‑time during the calculation period are entitled to the minimum amount of temporary disability and maternity benefits, calculated from the amount of the monthly minimum wage (MWP). The basis for assigning benefits at the minimum amount is a certificate confirming full‑time education.

The benefit is calculated from the average daily earnings over the 18 months preceding the illness quarter (the calculation period). In this case, the calculation period for determining the average daily earnings runs from January 2025 to June 2026. Since the woman did not work during the calculation period, her average daily earnings over 18 months are zero. However, she was receiving full‑time education and is entitled to the minimum benefit. The amount of the benefit for 17 days of sickness will be 470.56 rubles (MWP 858.00 / 31 days of August × 17 days of temporary disability).

Information on the assignment of temporary disability benefits can be obtained by calling the single information line of the National Social Protection Fund of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection at 122 every Wednesday from 9:00 to 12:00.