The cost of Social Security sick leave has seen a huge jump since the pandemic, which appears to be far from moderate with a return to normalcy. By 2023, the government has calculated that it will have to pay 11,764 million euros to cover temporary disability operations. This will be the fourth year in a row that the disbursement exceeds 10 thousand million euros after the sharp rise in the bill that caused a wave of job losses due to Covid injuries. The last specific and complete year-end data is for 2021. Last year, nearly 12,500 million euros were allocated to cover job losses. It is the highest number in the historical series – going back fifteen years – and even higher than the two years prior to the epidemic. In addition, it is twice as much as in 2016, that is, five years ago, when the cost of social services for these benefits amounted to 6,871 million euros. However, the component of structuring expenses associated with losses preoccupies the government. Just a year ago, the Ministry of Integration, Social Security and Immigration announced the strengthening of INSS medical diagnostic services in independent communities with the aim of more accurately identifying diseases that prevent employees from agreeing to their jobs. 315 million euros have been allocated in the 2022 budgets. Strengthening controls “This amount is included to improve the control and management of temporary disability, and to establish medical units specializing in the most prevalent diseases. Similarly, as a novelty among the goals of the agreements, it is proposed to use predictive tools in medical examinations to be conducted by public health services, and to enhance physical, computer and human resources, including incentives for the latter. The average was taken in a complex context, where Covid is still present and still with some social restrictions, as well as a protection umbrella for the worker so that their situation is not affected by causing sick leave due to infection with the Covid virus. Mobile Desktop Icon Picture, Subwoofer & App Mobile Icon AMP Code 1400 APP However, already a year ago the government realized there was potential fraud around the feature. “In the end, it is about promoting the optimum performance of the utility’s dynamics and ensuring its preventive purpose, together with the necessary oversight to avoid potential fraud,” noted the ministry led by Jose Luis Escriva. With everything and with it, although 2022 should give a break to an increase in the bill at a cost that will be about 1,400 million less than in 2021, to stand at 10,818 million euros, by 2023 the CEO is back to save nearly 1,000 million euros more than was budgeted at the beginning of the same 2022. Deviation from the budget Now, in the latest figures from Social Security, they acknowledge the revision of this annual budget, which, finally, far from giving a break, could be similar to or even greater than the peak that It was reached at the end of 2021. Thus, the government warns in the budget schedule for 2023 that the budgeted 11.764 million is 1,756 million less than the liquidation forecast for this year. Assuming the expectations of the executive branch itself, this means that what the state will finally spend to cover sick leave this year will exceed 13,000 million euros. It must be remembered that this budget for temporary disability is indicative and that it varies according to the number of workers who suffer from illnesses that prevent them from remaining in work. Related News Standard Public Budgets No Escrivá will not raise the contribution to higher salaries twice a year: once with the CPI and another due to the unstoppable agreement with the EU Gonzalo D. 2023 adequacy between the basics and the maximum pension in 30 years, and the thing What is certain is that next year will be the fourth consecutive year in which spending exceeds 10,000 million euros. If we look at the past five years – including 2023 and 2019 – the cost of sick leave for Social Security will be 56,469 million euros. In the previous five years, between 2014 and 2018, both included, the cost amounted to €33,502 million. Thus, payments for the past five years are almost twice as much as in the previous five years, and it is precisely 70% higher.
