Key takeaways
- LINDUNG 24 Jam has covered employees in Malaysia since 1 June 2026 for accidents outside work, such as a bathroom fall or a weekend sports injury.
- Until 31 May 2028, employees alone pay about 0.75% of wages: RM22.15 a month on a RM3,000 wage and RM44.65 at the RM6,000 wage ceiling.
- On a RM3,000 wage, PERKESO's table pays RM47.20 a day during medical leave (48%), RM1,593 a month to dependants after a death, and a RM3,000 funeral benefit.
- The opt-out window ended on 31 August 2026: those still in the scheme cannot leave now, and those who left can rejoin on the LINDUNG Faedah portal with no deadline.
- It does not pay for illness, accidents overseas or anyone not contributing, and private hospital bills are reimbursed at government rates, so it does not replace a medical card.
- Budget 2027 proposes an extra income tax relief of up to RM150 on voluntary LINDUNG 24 contributions from year of assessment 2027, separate from the RM350 SOCSO relief.
What is LINDUNG 24 Jam, and who does it cover?
LINDUNG 24 Jam is the public name of the Skim Kemalangan Bukan Bencana Kerja (SKBBK), the Non-Employment Injury Scheme. PERKESO describes it as round-the-clock protection for eligible employees, including accidents outside working hours that have nothing to do with the job. It started on 1 June 2026 and sits on top of your normal PERKESO (SOCSO) cover.
The gap it closes is real. NST reports that over the past decade more than 38,000 injured workers had claims rejected because the accident was not work-related.
PERKESO has named these as the kinds of accident that can qualify, as long as a doctor certifies the injury and it affects your ability to work:
- a finger bitten by a pet cat
- slipping in the bathroom or on the stairs
- sports and recreation on weekends and public holidays
- injuries from household equipment, or while preparing food
- accidents while travelling within Malaysia
Other reported cases include a wrist fractured in a fall from a ladder while trimming a rambutan tree, and a scald from hot water at home. If you work from home, PERKESO looks at what you were doing: official duties go under the Employment Injury Scheme, personal activities under LINDUNG 24 Jam.
| If you are | Your LINDUNG 24 Jam position |
|---|---|
| A local employee who did nothing by 31 August 2026 | In the scheme, and your deduction continues |
| A local employee who opted out | Not covered and not entitled to benefits, but you can rejoin at any time |
| A foreign worker | Compulsory |
| A new local hire | In by default, unless you opt out before your first contribution is deducted, according to a payroll guide to PERKESO rules. Confirm with your HR. |
| Aged 60 or above and still employed | That same guide says PERKESO sets no upper age limit while you remain an employee |
| Self-employed | Not this scheme. Self-employment injuries fall under LINDUNG Kendiri (Act 789). |
| A housewife | Not this scheme. Domestic injuries fall under LINDUNG Kasih (Act 838). |
How much is deducted from my salary, and can I still opt out?
Contributions are fully borne by employees, and your employer deducts and pays them to PERKESO. The rate rises in three phases, on a wage ceiling of RM6,000. The dates below are from NST and the income replacement figures from PERKESO via Bernama.
| Phase | Period | Employee pays | Income replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2028 | 0.75% | 48% |
| 2 | From June 2028 | 1.0% | I could not find a published figure |
| 3 | From June 2031 | 1.25% | 80%, as PERKESO has stated |
The actual deduction comes from a wage-band table, so it is slightly under a straight 0.75%. PERKESO shows the first three rows below. The top row is from the same payroll guide, and NST rounds it to RM45. The yearly totals are my own multiplication.
| Monthly wage | You pay a month (Phase 1) | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| RM1,800 | RM13.15 | RM157.80 |
| RM3,000 | RM22.15 | RM265.80 |
| RM5,000 | RM37.15 | RM445.80 |
| RM6,000 and above | RM44.65 | RM535.80 |
Can you still opt out? For most people, no. The Cabinet made the scheme voluntary for local employees on 8 July 2026, and it stays mandatory for foreign workers. PERKESO's chief executive said the opt-out period ended on 31 August and workers can no longer leave, under the "Once In, Always In" principle. As of 5 November 2026 I found no report of a new window, but PERKESO and the ministry said they would review the mechanism by the end of this year, so this could change.
Can you get back what you paid? PERKESO says contributions made before opting out are unlikely to be refunded, because they were legally valid and cover was already given.
Tax relief. The Ministry of Finance Budget 2027 tax measures propose an additional relief limited to RM150 on voluntary employee contributions to LINDUNG 24, from year of assessment 2027, while the existing SOCSO relief stays at RM350. Relief lowers your chargeable income; it is not a refund. My tax relief guide has the full list. This is general information, not tax advice.
How much does LINDUNG 24 Jam pay?
This is PERKESO's own Phase 1 table, at the 0.75% rate. Its example is a 29-year-old paralysed in an accident, assessed at 100% by the Medical Board, with a widow and one child as dependants. Your figures will differ with your age, wage band and assessment.
| Benefit | Wage RM1,800 | Wage RM3,000 | Wage RM5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Disablement (48%), a day | RM28.00 | RM47.20 | RM79.20 |
| Permanent Disablement (54%), lump sum | RM30,347.10 | RM51,156.54 | RM85,838.94 |
| Permanent Disablement, plus a month | RM756.00 | RM1,274.40 | RM2,138.40 |
| Dependants' Benefit, a month | RM945.00 | RM1,593.00 | RM2,673.00 |
The Star reports that a RM6,000 wage gets RM95.20 a day. Because contributions stop at the ceiling, I would treat that as the practical top at today's rate, even if you earn much more. The same report says people hurt in June 2026 had no earlier contribution month on record and got a floor of RM18 a day, so early payouts in the news may understate today's rates.
The table also lists these benefits:
- Medical: no limit, subject to the Fees Act. Treatment is at government hospitals or PERKESO panel facilities. A private hospital bill is reimbursed at government hospital rates, not in full.
- Rehabilitation: no limit in PERKESO's table, including implants and equipment such as wheelchairs.
- Funeral: RM3,000.
- Others: Constant Attendance Allowance of RM500 a month, and vocational rehabilitation and an Education Benefit.
Temporary Disablement needs certified medical leave of at least four days including the day of the accident. For a sense of real payments, one family received RM3,000 for the funeral and RM378 a month after a 22-year-old died in a road accident on his way to a friend's house.
Worked example (assumptions only, not a promise of payment)
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Monthly wage (assumed) | RM3,000 |
| Accident (assumed) | Slips at home on a Saturday and fractures a wrist |
| Certified medical leave (assumed) | 30 days |
| Temporary Disablement Benefit | RM47.20 x 30 = RM1,416 |
| Shortfall if no wages are paid that month | RM3,000 less RM1,416 = RM1,584 |
Employer sick pay changes this picture. PERKESO says employers typically pay full wages for the first two months of medical leave and half wages in months three and four, and that wages may stop from the fifth month. A long recovery is where the shortfall really bites.
What does LINDUNG 24 Jam not cover?
PERKESO lists accidents outside Malaysia, self-employment and domestic injuries under their own Acts, and conditions caused by illness such as diabetes, fever and high blood pressure. Foreign workers who misuse their pass or breach their entry conditions are also excluded. The Star adds injuries from crime or self-harm, and anyone who is not an active contributor. In one fatal crash reported by NST, victims with no active contribution record were not eligible under Act 4.
A road accident with a summons? PERKESO says excluded accidents include those from deliberate actions, crime, fraud or violations of the law. The payroll guide, summarising PERKESO's list, says a road accident that is not a criminal offence stays covered even if the police issue a fine or compound. I could not confirm how PERKESO treats driving without a licence or speeding, so ask PERKESO rather than assume.
I often see people treat LINDUNG 24 Jam and private insurance as either/or. PERKESO's chief executive says they serve different but complementary purposes. Here is how I would think about the gaps:
| Situation | What LINDUNG 24 Jam does | What usually fills the gap |
|---|---|---|
| Illness: dengue, heart problems, cancer | Nothing, because it is not an accident. The Invalidity Scheme handles non-work illness under its own conditions. | Medical card for hospital bills, critical illness cover for a lump sum |
| You want a private hospital after an accident | Reimbursement at government rates | Medical card, according to its terms |
| An accident on holiday overseas | Nothing | Travel insurance |
| You earn well above RM6,000 | Benefits stay tied to the RM6,000 ceiling | Personal accident or life cover sized to your income |
| A housing loan and young children | A monthly Dependants' Benefit, no lump sum to clear debt | Life insurance, MLTA or MRTA |
| Your spouse or children are not employed | Nothing for them, since it covers the employee | Their own personal cover |
How do I opt back in, or check if I am still covered?
- Look at your payslip. PERKESO separated the contributions on salary slips for transparency, so look for a LINDUNG 24 Jam or SKBBK line.
- Still unsure? Check your status on the LINDUNG Faedah portal or at any PERKESO office.
- Rejoin on the portal. PERKESO's notice says you can update your choice from 2 September 2026 at lindungfaedah.perkeso.gov.my, and there is no deadline.
- Know when cover begins. Cover starts from the date and time you submit, and contributions are payable on that month's salary.
- Tell HR. Your employer makes the deduction. PERKESO's own post tells workers who change jobs to tell the new employer they want to opt in. If you have more than one employer, PERKESO has a form for choosing which one deducts.
- Be sure first. PERKESO says that once you opt back in, you can no longer withdraw.
About 1.2 million workers opted out, and 52% of them earned under RM3,500, the same group behind 74% of off-work claims. Close to 10,000 had already signed back up by early September.
How do I claim LINDUNG 24 Jam?
- Get treated and keep the original MC. Remember the four-day minimum for Temporary Disablement Benefit.
- Prepare your documents. One claimant told NST needed only a copy of the identity card, a bank statement and the original MC. The Star says medical certification and, where relevant, a police report are needed.
- Submit on the LINDUNG Faedah portal or at the nearest PERKESO office. PERKESO's general benefits page still says forms go to an office counter, so if the portal gives you trouble, call 1-300-22-8000 or go in person.
- Wait for verification. PERKESO may contact your employer. NST reports that more than 90% of claims were approved and processed within five days.
- For a serious injury, the Medical Board assesses permanent disablement. Section 52 of the Act stops employers dismissing or penalising you while you receive Temporary Disablement Benefit.
Scale matters here too: 10,424 claims came in between 1 June and 30 September 2026, about 85 a day, and RM16.67 million was paid to 8,611 recipients. If anything, that shows how ordinary these accidents are.
Common mistakes:
- Assuming you are covered after opting out, or after moving to a new employer without telling them.
- Expecting a private hospital bill to be repaid in full.
- Throwing away the original MC.
- Expecting Temporary Disablement Benefit for medical leave under four days.
- Assuming it covers an accident overseas or a bout of dengue.
What should you do next?
Start with three quick checks:
- Find the LINDUNG 24 Jam line on your latest payslip, so you know whether you are in.
- List what else you have: a medical card, company insurance, personal accident cover, life insurance.
- Ask yourself: if I could not work for three months, or had dengue instead of a broken wrist, what would actually pay?
If that is hard to answer, send me what you have. My free policy review covers policies from other insurers too. I serve families and small business owners in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in Mandarin, English or Cantonese, and most new clients reach me through existing clients, including people who first came with a question about a policy bought elsewhere.
LINDUNG 24 Jam is a PERKESO scheme, not something I sell, and whether to join is your decision. If what you already have is enough, I will tell you so. No hard selling. WhatsApp me at 016-914 0086, and please do not send your MyKad number or medical reports in the first message.