Craftsperson, shopkeeper, liberal professional or micro-entrepreneur: when you fall ill, the question comes up quickly. Will I receive anything during my sick leave, how much and from when? Self-employed workers are entitled to indemnités journalières (IJ, daily sickness allowances) paid by the Assurance maladie (French national health insurance), but subject to conditions and with an amount calculated on past income. Here are the rules in force in 2026 and the steps to take from day one.
The conditions for receiving benefits
For a sole trader who is a craftsperson or shopkeeper, the Service-Public page on social protection for shopkeepers and craftspeople, checked on 8 October 2026, sets two conditions:
- having paid health and maternity insurance contributions for at least 1 year;
- having paid a minimum contribution on the date the doctor certifies the incapacity.
The general page on social protection for sole traders sets out the same requirement: 12 months of uninterrupted affiliation with the Sécurité sociale des indépendants (social security for the self-employed), for craftspeople and shopkeepers as well as for liberal professions. You also need a sick note (arrêt de travail) prescribed by a doctor, and benefits require you to actually stop working during the leave.
Micro-entrepreneurs are not excluded: the page on the régime micro-social (the simplified social security scheme for micro-entrepreneurs) states that it entitles holders to “reimbursement of medical expenses and allowances in the event of illness or maternity”.
Waiting period and maximum duration
The first 3 days of sick leave are not paid: this is the délai de carence (waiting period). Service-Public gives an example: for sick leave from 13 to 25 November, the IJ are paid from 16 to 25 November. According to Meilleurtaux, there are exceptions, particularly when sick leave is extended.
The benefit period is capped:
- craftspeople and shopkeepers: a maximum of 360 daily allowances over 3 years, for one or more periods of leave;
- liberal professions: the total duration of paid sick leave cannot exceed 90 days. Meilleurtaux specifies that some professional funds (CARMF, CAVEC, CARCDSF, CARPIMKO) take over beyond that, but not the Cipav;
- temps partiel thérapeutique (part-time work on medical grounds): for craftspeople and shopkeepers, IJ are limited to 90 days, a period that can be extended in some cases up to 360 IJ, and the amount is halved.
How the amount is calculated
The daily allowance is equal to 1/730th of the revenu d’activité annuel moyen (RAAM, average annual earned income), i.e. the average income subject to contributions over the 3 years preceding the sick leave.
- Craftspeople and shopkeepers: the income taken into account is capped at €48,060 in 2026, giving a maximum IJ of €65.84 gross per day.
- Liberal professions: the income cap is €144,180, giving a maximum IJ of €197.50 per day.
Two points often catch out people on low incomes. First, for a micro-entrepreneur, the fund does not use gross turnover: according to Meilleurtaux, it applies the flat-rate allowance for the activity, ranging from 34% to 71%. Second, the same outlet states that no allowance is paid when average income is below €4,582 for sick leave in 2026. A micro-entrepreneur who is just starting out or declares little may therefore receive nothing.
The steps to take, one by one
- See a doctor on the day you stop working and have a sick note issued.
- Send the sick note to your CPAM (local health insurance fund) within 48 hours of stopping work, as required by Service-Public.
- Actually stop working for the entire duration of the sick leave.
- Check your declarations and contributions: the calculation is based on the income on which you paid contributions over the last 3 years.
- Track your payments in your ameli account (the health insurance online account). According to Meilleurtaux, IJ arrive every 14 days on average.
- Claim on your prévoyance (income protection insurance) if you have taken one out: it tops up IJ that are often low.
Micro-entrepreneurs: securing your rights in advance
Because your IJ depend on your declared turnover, a year with no income can reduce your entitlement to zero. Service-Public provides a safeguard: a micro-entrepreneur can ask for their contributions not to fall below the minimum amount of social contributions. These minimum contributions make it possible to secure certain benefits, “for example, daily allowances”. The request must be made by 31 December at the latest, taking effect on the following 1 January; when a business is created, the deadline runs until the last day of the third month after creation. The trade-off: you pay these contributions even with zero turnover.
For specific situations (resuming activity, sick leave during the first years, combining with salaried employment), only your CPAM can confirm your entitlement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a micro-entrepreneur entitled to daily sickness allowances?
Yes, if they meet the 12-month affiliation condition and their assessed income reaches the minimum threshold. Low turnover results in a low allowance, or even none.
What is the maximum IJ for a self-employed worker in 2026?
€65.84 gross per day for a craftsperson or shopkeeper, and €197.50 per day for a liberal professional, according to Service-Public.
How quickly must I send my sick note?
Within 48 hours of stopping work, to your caisse primaire d’assurance maladie (CPAM). Keep proof of sending if you post it yourself.
What about maternity or paternity?
The rules are different. For a female craftsperson or shopkeeper, Service-Public mentions an allocation forfaitaire de repos maternel (flat-rate maternity rest allowance) of €4,005 in 2026 and IJ of €65.84 per day, with 6 months of contributions required before the expected due date. Paternity leave can be up to 25 days, or 32 in the case of multiple births.
What if sick leave lasts beyond the maximum durations?
For a craftsperson or shopkeeper, a pension d’invalidité (disability pension) may be considered if their capacity to work or earn is reduced by at least two-thirds, after at least 12 months of insurance. The CPAM’s medical adviser assesses the disability; if the pension is granted, the answer arrives within 2 months.
Sources
- Protection sociale du commerçant et de l'artisan — Service-Public.fr (Entreprendre), 2026-10-08
- Tout savoir sur la protection sociale de l'entrepreneur individuel — Service-Public.fr (Entreprendre), 2026-01-08
- Régime micro-social — Service-Public.fr (Entreprendre), 2026-02-21
- Arrêt maladie : quelles IJ pour les freelances en 2026 ? — Meilleurtaux, 2026-05-24