Psychological sick leave: how to request it, how much you get, and what's a myth
It's a medical leave like any other. Only a doctor can issue it, Social Security pays in brackets, and burnout doesn't qualify for 100%.
Psychological sick leave doesn't exist as a separate legal category. It's the standard Temporary Incapacity Certificate (CIT), issued by a doctor, with a mental health diagnosis: anxiety, depression, burnout. A psychologist cannot issue it. Social Security pays 55% of your reference pay for up to 30 days, 60% from day 31 to 90, and 70% from day 91 to 365, after a three-day waiting period. The only illness paid at 100% is tuberculosis, so the answer to “is psychological sick leave paid at 100” is no.
CIT and diagnosis
Who can issue psychological sick leave
Any doctor who examines you and concludes you're not fit to work. What matters is the incapacity, not the specialty.
In practice there are three routes: your family doctor, a psychiatrist if you're already under their care, and since 1 March 2024, any doctor in the private or social sector, including emergency departments and online consultations with a doctor registered with the Ordem dos Médicos, because Decreto-Lei 2/2024 extended the issuing of the CIT to these providers. Psychologists are excluded because the CIT is a medical act, as the Ordem dos Psicólogos itself explains to patients. A psychologist's report can support the leave, but it doesn't replace it.
- Up to 3 days: self-declared illness via SNS 24, twice a year, without a doctor. This covers a short crisis, not burnout.
- More than 3 days: CIT issued by a doctor.
- Qualifying period: 6 months of contributions and 12 working days in the previous 4 months.
Sources: Decreto-Lei n.º 2/2024, Ordem dos Médicos on the extended issuing of the CIT and Sickness Benefit Practical Guide, accessed on 7 September 2026.
2026 brackets
How much Social Security pays for psychological sick leave
Exactly the same as any other sick leave. The percentage depends on the duration, not the diagnosis.
- Up to 30 days: 55% of reference pay.
- 31 to 90 days: 60%.
- 91 to 365 days: 70%.
- More than 365 days: 75%.
The first two brackets rise by 5 points if your reference pay is 500 euros or less, with three or more children up to age 16, or a child receiving a disability supplement. There's a three-day waiting period, except for hospitalisation, outpatient surgery, or tuberculosis, and the limit is 1,095 days. The full calculation with figures is in our guide to how much sick leave pays.
The most searched myth
Is psychological sick leave paid at 100%?
No. The percentage depends only on the duration of the leave, and that applies to depression, anxiety and burnout alike.
The only situation paid at 100% is tuberculosis with more than two dependent family members. Hospitalisation doesn't give you 100%: it only removes the waiting period. The idea that leave for depression or burnout is paid in full comes from top-ups that some companies pay under a collective agreement. These exist, but they're an arrangement with your employer, not a Social Security rule.
What changes in practice
Sick leave for burnout, anxiety or depression: what changes
Nothing changes in your rights. What changes is the follow-up care.
Strictly speaking, burnout isn't a disease diagnosis: the WHO's International Classification of Diseases (CID-11) describes it as a work-related phenomenon, not a disease. That doesn't prevent sick leave. The doctor certifies the incapacity they observe, usually described as a stress reaction, anxiety, or a depressive episode. What changes is the follow-up: leave that's limited to simply stopping work without treatment tends to drag on. Expect a plan involving psychology and, if necessary, psychiatry, with a review at two to four weeks. A mental health consultation with a Global Health doctor can assess your situation and, if there's incapacity, issue the CIT, without guaranteeing the leave or its duration. If the leave continues for a while, the Incapacity Verification System may call you in. Missing it means losing the benefit.
Step by step
How to request psychological sick leave
- 1. Medical appointment. Symptoms, duration, impact on your work. Bring any psychologist's reports you have.
- 2. CIT. It's sent electronically to Social Security. On paper, hand it in within 5 working days, or the benefit only counts from the date it's handed in.
- 3. Employer. Give them the copy, available on the SNS 24 portal or app.
- 4. Renewal. Book your reassessment before the end date, not after.
In a crisis, don't wait for an appointment. The SNS 24 line, 808 24 24 24, offers psychological counselling 24 hours a day, with clinical psychologists. In immediate danger, call 112.
Social Security — Temporary incapacity, SNS 24 — accessing the CIT and SNS 24 — psychological counselling.
Global Health Portugal
Medical assessment and support
The doctor assesses the incapacity and issues the CIT. Social Security decides the benefit.
- Mental health consultation
- Online sick leave
- How much sick leave pays
- Self-declared illness or sick leave
- Doctors in Portugal
- Contact Global Health
Need a medical assessment?
A doctor assesses your situation and, if you're unfit for work, issues the CIT. The consultation doesn't guarantee the leave.
Official sources
Sources for this guide
Percentages and deadlines taken from Social Security's pages and current legislation, verified on 7 September 2026.
Confirm your case on Segurança Social Direta. Top-ups paid by your employer depend on the collective agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about psychological sick leave
Can a psychologist issue sick leave?
No. The CIT is issued by a doctor. A psychologist's report can support the medical decision, but it doesn't replace the certificate.
Is burnout sick leave paid at 100%?
No. It pays 55% up to 30 days, 60% from day 31 to 90, and 70% from day 91 to 365. Only tuberculosis is paid at 100%, and only with more than two dependent family members.
Can I request psychological sick leave in an online consultation?
Yes, since 2024, with a doctor registered with the Ordem dos Médicos. The doctor decides whether there's incapacity; the consultation doesn't guarantee the certificate.
Can I leave home during psychological sick leave?
Social Security provides for the loss of the benefit for anyone who leaves home without medical authorisation or misses an incapacity verification. Ask your doctor what applies in your case.
