ZUS checks pregnant women more and more often. They decide to take one step
The number of appeals against the decision of ZUS to withdraw the right to benefits for pregnant women is systematically growing – writes today’s “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”. This is the result of intensified inspection activities of insurance companies.
Just a few years ago, the decision of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) to question sick leave and withdraw the right to benefits from a pregnant woman was in practice the end of the matter. As “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” writes, today it is increasingly becoming its beginning. Appeals against decisions issued after inspections of exemptions with code “B” in many cases end with a change of the court’s decision.
Over 5 thousand L4 control of pregnant women
Data obtained by the daily show that only in the years 2023-2025 the number of appeals against decisions issued after inspections of sick leave during pregnancy more than doubled – from 33 to 70 per year. These are situations in which ZUS found that e-ZLA was used contrary to its purpose and, as a result, deprived the right to benefits for a specific period. Although appeals constitute a small percentage compared to the total number of inspections carried out, the direction of change is clear.
Last year, there were over 5,253 inspections of sick leave issued to pregnant women, which is the highest level in the last three years. The vast majority of cases end with confirmation of the correct use of e-ZLA (in almost 95% of cases, no irregularities were found). Therefore, the intensification of ZUS activities did not translate into a proportional increase in the number of cases in which the right to benefits was withdrawn. However, if the inspection results in incorrect use of L4, ZUS issues a decision on the loss of the right to benefits for the indicated period. The insured person has one month to appeal to the labor and social security court.
It is worth remembering that until the court changes its decision, the decision remains in force. In practice, this means no benefit payment for the disputed period. For a pregnant woman who cannot work for health reasons, this often means losing her only source of income. Even if the court ultimately changes the ZUS decision and grants the benefit with compensation, a period of several months without current funds means real financial burden and uncertainty.
