Olga Magomedova, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, explained in a comment for Izvestiya how sick leave payments are calculated and what amounts Russians can expect in 2026.
The expert emphasized that the announced maximum amount of sick pay (Rb6,827 per day) is not the amount that every employee will receive, as the calculation is made individually, based on insurance experience and average earnings. For most citizens, the actual amount of sick pay will be significantly lower. “According to Sberindex data, in September 2025, the median salary in Russia was Rb59,849. Therefore, in practice, the amount of sick pay for most Russians in 2026 will be about Rb1,800 per day,” Olga Magomedova noted.
The expert also explained in detail the calculation mechanism, which is based on two key parameters: the length of insurance experience and the average daily earnings, limited by the maximum base for insurance contributions. It is the annual increase in this limit, which will amount to Rb2,979,000 in 2026, that leads to an increase in the maximum possible amount of the benefit.