This chapter provides information on benefits and compensation available in Latvia in relation to accidents at work and occupational diseases (Kaitējuma atlīdzība sakarā ar nelaimes gadījumu darbā vai arodslimību):

• sickness benefits;
• compensation for loss of work capacity;
• compensation for the loss of a breadwinner due to a workplace accident or work-related illness (apdrošināšanas atlīdzība par apgādnieka zaudējumu sakarā ar nelaimes gadījumu darbā vai arodslimību);
• compensation for medical treatment, purchase of technical equipment and travel expenses (atlīdzība par ārstēšanās, tehnisko palīglīdzekļu iegādes un ceļa izdevumiem).

In what situation can I claim?

If you have temporarily lost work capacity due to an accident at work or occupational disease, you have the right to claim sickness benefits.

In the event of serious and long-term loss of work capacity you will receive compensation for loss of work capacity. For occupational diseases, compensation is awarded to persons who have been socially insured for at least 3 years.

If an insured person dies due to an accident at work or occupational disease, his or her family members have the right to claim compensation for the loss of their breadwinner and funeral benefits (apdrošināšanas atlīdzība par apgādnieka zaudējumu un apbedīšanas pabalsts).

Socially insured persons also have the right to claim compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses (atlīdzība par ārstēšanās un rehabilitācijas izdevumiem sakarā ar nelaimes gadījumu darbā vai arodslimību).

What conditions do I need to meet?

If you have a work-related illness, you will receive sickness benefits from the first day of the illness, while in case of accident at work benefits are paid starting from the 11th day following the injury.

You can claim compensation for loss of work capacity if you have lost at least 25% of your work capacity. The extent of loss of work capacity is determined by the State Medical Commission for the Assessment of Health Condition and Working Ability.

If an insured person dies due to accident at work or occupational disease, the following non-work-capable family members who were provided for by the deceased have the right to claim compensation for the loss of a breadwinner:

• children younger than 18 years;
• adult children declared disabled before the age of 18;
• brothers, sisters and grandchildren younger than 18 years without work-capable parents;
• adult brothers, sisters and grandchildren declared disabled before the age of 18 and without work-capable parents;
• spouses and parents if they are not already receiving old-age pensions;
• persons caring for a child of the deceased who is younger than 8 years old (a spouse, one of the parents regardless of their age, an adult brother/sister).

Persons studying full time who are not older than 24 years of age have the right to claim a loss of breadwinner pension after reaching the age of 18.

The following medical and rehabilitation expenses are compensated in relation to workplace accidents or work-related illnesses:

• medical treatment and purchase of medication;
• medical and social rehabilitation;
• technical aids and prosthetics;
• travel expenses while visiting a medical institution;
• companion's expenses;
• professional rehabilitation and retraining.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Sickness benefits

Sickness benefits amount to 80% of the wage from which social insurance contributions have been paid. The average contribution wage is calculated based on the previous 12-month period excluding the 2 months (3 months for a self-employed person) preceding the month in which the work-related illness was discovered.

Compensation for loss of work capacity

Compensation is paid monthly. Compensation is calculated depending on the evaluated percentage loss of work capacity (starting from 25%) and your average contribution wage.

Compensation may be received simultaneously with a retirement or old-age pension, if the pension is smaller than the granted compensation. In this case the pay-out will be the pension plus the difference between the compensation and the pension.

Compensation for loss of breadwinner

Compensation is paid monthly. The amount of compensation for the loss of a breadwinner depends on the number of dependents and the average contribution wage:

Compensation for medical expenses

Compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses may not exceed EUR 2,725 per event.

Application for benefits and compensation

You can apply for sickness benefits, compensation for loss of work capacity and compensation for refunding of medical expenses by completing a form in person at any State Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) branch (or by sending the completed form to the SSIA).

You must also submit a statement regarding an accident at work or a report on the occupational disease.

To receive sickness benefits, work incapacity forms are issued electronically in the e-health system. If you apply for the benefit not using an e-service, you need to know the number and issuing date of your incapacity form. You can find it in the e-health portal or ask your doctor.

To receive compensation for loss of a breadwinner, you must submit a statement from a medical institution regarding the connection between the cause of death and the workplace accident or work-related illness, a marriage or birth certificate or a court ruling on the fact of dependency, and a statement from an educational institution regarding children who have reached 18 years of age.

To receive compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation, you must submit documents affirming the necessity and amount of the expenditure (printouts from your medical card, invoices and receipts).

In order to continue receiving compensation for loss of work capacity if you move to a foreign country, every year from 1 October to 15 December you must submit a request by post or in person to the SSIA, to which must be added a declaration from a notary public that the recipient is still alive.

The portal Latvija.lv has information in e-service format regarding your social insurance payments and the amount of benefits, pensions and support payments you can claim using internet banking or your e-signature.

Jargon busters

A work incapacity form is issued electronically by a doctor or doctor's assistant at a medical institution after examining the patient, justifying the adopted decision with medical documentation.

The insurance contributions wage is the amount of income from which social insurance contributions have been paid. The average contribution wage for compensation for loss of work capacity and for compensation for the loss of a breadwinner is calculated for 36 consecutive months within the five years period before the risk occurred.

Social insurance contributions are legally mandated payments paid into a special budget account which give the right to socially insured persons to receive social insurance benefits stipulated by law, including unemployment, maternity, paternity, illness and parental benefits, disability, old-age and loss of breadwinner pensions, and compensation for workplace accidents and work-related illnesses and healthcare services.

A breadwinner is a person with the obligation to provide for his or her dependents: his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, parents or grandparents.

A dependent is a non-work-capable person who is fully or partially supported by the breadwinner.

Forms you may need to fill in

• Form for claiming/recalculating sickness benefits to be submitted to the SSIA in person, by post, e-mail (signed with an e-signature) or e-application
• Form for claiming insurance compensation (loss of work capacity/breadwinner) to be submitted to the SSIA in person, by post, e-mail (signed with an e-signature) or e-application
• Form for claiming compensation for losses (loss of work capacity/breadwinner) to be submitted to the SSIA in person, by post or e-mail (signed with an e-signature)
• Form for claiming compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses to be submitted to the SSIA in person, by post or e-mail (signed with an e-signature if no cheques are submitted)

Know your rights

See the links below for information on your rights in relation to workplace accidents and work-related illnesses. These are not European Commission websites and do not reflect the views of the European Commission.

• Social security in the European Union - information on social insurance periods if you have worked/lived in another EU country, as well as pensions and benefits you can continue to claim if you move to another Member State.

Latvian laws and regulations on claiming benefits and compensation:

• Law on Compulsory Social Insurance in respect of Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases
• Cabinet regulations on procedures for issuing work incapacity forms, on calculating contribution wages and claiming sickness benefits, on calculating mandatory social insurance in case of workplace accidents and work-related illnesses.

European Commission publication and website:

• EU Social Security Coordination

Who do you need to contact?

State Social Insurance Agency
Lacplesa iela 70a, Riga, LV-1011
Tel.: +371 64507020 (working days 8.30- 17.00)
Email: pasts@vsaa.gov.lv
Email for consultations: konsultacijas@vsaa.gov.lv, twitter.com/VSAA_LV
Branches in Riga and elsewhere

State Medical Commission for the Assessment of Health Condition and Working Ability
Ventspils iela 53, Riga, LV-1002
Tel.: 67614885, Fax: 67602982
Email: pasts@vdeavk.gov.lv.

Email for consultations: konsultacijas@vdeavk.gov.lv
Regional offices

State Labour Inspectorate
Krisjana Valdemara 38k-1, Riga, LV-1010
Tel. for consultations: +371 67186522, +371 67186523, Fax: +371 67021718
Email: vdi@vdi.gov.lv, twitter.com/darbainspekcija, twitter.com/darbaizsardziba
Regional offices

Ministry of Welfare
Skolas iela 28, Riga, LV-1331
Tel.: +371 80205100
Email: lm@lm.gov.lv
twitter.com/Lab_min

If you have any problems regarding your rights in the European Union, please contact the EU assistance service.