Udbetaling Danmark
Udbetaling Danmark is the authority responsible for the collection, disbursement and control of a number of public benefits.
Udbetaling Danmark assumed responsibility for five municipal areas - Family benefits, Maternity/paternity benefits, State pension, Disability pension and Housing benefits - during the period October 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013. The responsibility for international pension and social security tasks was transferred from the former Danish Pensions Agency to Udbetaling Danmark on 1 June 2013.
On May 1, 2015, another five areas were transferred from the municipalities - among them were Labour market exit benefit and international health tasks (eg the European health insurance card).
The municipalities and the state pay the costs that ATP has in connection with solving the tasks in Payout Denmark.
Read about the background for Udbetaling Danmark's services
Housing benefits
Housing benefit is a public benefit administered by Udbetaling Danmark.
The benefit is a rent subsidy for which tenants of rented accommodation can apply if they meet a number of criteria, for example in terms of income and the nature of the rented accommodation.
Until 1 March 2013, Danish municipalities were the authorities responsible for housing benefits. After this date, this responsibility was transferred to Udbetaling Danmark.
Legal framework
See the legal framework of housing benefits (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on housing benefits, contact details and self-service can be found at lifeindenmark.dk:
State pension
State pension is a public benefit administered by Udbetaling Danmark.
State pension provides an income to all Danes in retirement. The pension comprises a basic amount and a pension supplement. The basic amount is the same for single pensioners and cohabiting couples, while the pension supplement is higher for single pensioners than for married pensioners and cohabiting couples.
To be eligible for state pension, citizens generally have to meet three basic conditions. They must
- be Danish citizens
- reside permanently in Denmark
- have lived in Denmark for at least three years since their 15th birthday.
Special rules may apply to citizens who have lived or live abroad, and to refugees.
Citizens wishing to remain in the labour market may defer their state pension – and receive a higher pension in return.
Other pension supplements
In connection with the state pension, Udbetaling Danmark also administers heating allowance and the supplementary pension benefit, the 'elderly cheque'.
Legal framework
Find the legal framework at retsinformation.dk (in danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on state pension, contact details and self-service can be found at lifeindenmark.dk:
Disability pension
Disability pension is a public benefit, awarded by the municipality and disbursed by Udbetaling Danmark.
Disability pension provides basic financial support to citizens with permanently reduced working capacity. Disability pension is awarded by the municipality. Udbetaling Danmark is responsible for the disbursement of disability pension.
Recipients may to some extent work while receiving disability pension.
Until 1 March 2013, Danish municipalities were the authorities responsible for disability pension. After this date, this responsibility was transferred to Udbetaling Danmark.
Legal framework
See the legal framework for disability pension under the new rules (in Danish)
See the legal framework for disability pension under the old rules (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on disability pension, contact details and self-service can be found at lifeindenmark.dk.
Maternity/paternity benefits
Maternity/paternity benefits are public benefits paid to parents during their maternity or paternity leave by Udbetaling Danmark.
These benefits are paid to parents on leave who have labour market attachment and are eligible for maternity or paternity benefits in connection with pregnancy, birth and adoption. They must be unemployed or have taken their employer-paid maternity or paternity leave.
In addition to disbursement of parental benefits, Udbetaling Danmark is responsible for maternity/paternity reimbursement to companies with employees receiving maternity/paternity benefits.
Until 1 December 2012, Danish municipalities were the authorities responsible for maternity/paternity benefits. After this date, this responsibility was transferred to Udbetaling Danmark.
Legal framework
Information and self-service for citizens and and businesses
Information on maternity/paternity benefits, contact details and self-service can be found at lifeindenmark.dk and virk.dk:
For citizens:
Read more about maternity/paternity benefits at lifeindenmark.dk
For companies:
Read more about reimbursement of maternity/paternity benefits at virk.dk (in Danish)
Family benefits
Family benefits are a collective term for a number of public benefits administered by Udbetaling Danmark.
These benefits are:
- Child and youth benefits (the 'child cheque')
- Ordinary child allowance payable to single parents
- Extra child allowance payable to single parents
- Advance maintenance payments (child support and alimony)
Legal framework
Find the legal framework of individual benefits at borger.dk (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on family benefits, contact details and self-service can be found at lifeindenmark.dk:
Funeral benefits
Funeral benefits are a lump sum paid to relatives or others paying the costs of a funeral
Funeral benefits are a financial grant to help with funeral costs. The person paying for the funeral may apply for funeral benefits.
The task of administering the funeral benefits scheme was transferred to Udbetaling Danmark – Public Benefits Administration on 1 May 2015. Up until then, the task was handled by the municipalities.
Legal framework
See the legal framework for funeral benefits at borger.dk (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on funeral benefits, contact details and self-service can be found at borger.dk:
Read more about funeral benefits at borger.dk (in Danish)
Partial pension
Partial pension is financial compensation paid to persons who want to reduce their working hours and who do not have the option to take early retirement.
Partial pension is available as financial compensation to persons born before 1959 who want to reduce their working hours. The partial pension scheme will be abolished by the end of 2025.
The task of administering the partial pension scheme was transferred to Udbetaling Danmark on 1 May 2015. Up until then, the task was handled by the municipalities.
Legal framework
See the legal framework for partial pension at borger.dk (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on partial pension, contact details and self-service can be found at borger.dk:
Read more about partial pension at borger.dk (in Danish)
Survivor benefits
Survivor benefits are paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased.
Survivor benefits are a lump sum that can be applied for following the death of a spouse or common-law partner. However, to be eligible for survivor benefits the applicant's annual income may not exceed DKK 363,028 (2015).
Since 1 May 2015, the survivor benefits scheme has been administered by Udbetaling Danmark. Up until that date, the scheme was administered by the municipalities.
Legal framework
See the legal framework for survivor benefits at borger.dk (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on survivor benefits, contact details and self-service can be found at borger.dk.
Read more about survivor benefits at borger.dk (in Danish)
Labour market exit benefit
Labour market exit benefits under the flexi job scheme are a labour market exit benefit available to persons in flexi jobs who want to stop working some years before reaching the retirement age. As a general rule, recipients must have paid into the flexi job scheme for at least 30 years to be eligible for labour market exit benefits under the flexi job scheme.
Since 1 May 2015, labour market exit benefits and contributions to the flexi job scheme have been paid and collected by Udbetaling Danmark. Up until that date, the task was handled by the municipalities. The municipalities are still responsible for referring citizens to flexi jobs.
Legal framework
See the legal framework for labour market exit benefit at borger.dk (in Danish)
Information and self-service for citizens
Information on labour market exit benefit, contact details and self-service can be found at borger.dk:
Read more about labour market exit benefit at borger.dk (in Danish)
Financial government schemes
As part of the Danish government’s plan to move state jobs from Copenhagen, as of 1 October 2016 a number of tasks have been transferred from Statens Administration to Udbetaling Danmark.
The tasks of financial government schemes were previously handled by the Financial Service Centre under Statens Administration and comprise the administration of repayment of student loans (SU), administration and payment of civil servant pensions and illness benefit as well as administration of a number of government subsidies, loans and guarantees.
The tasks are geographically located in the ATP centres in Holstebro and Frederikshavn, Denmark. A small number of specialists work at ATP’s offices in Hillerød and Allerød, Denmark.
Information and self-service for citizens and businesses
Information om statslige finansielle ordninger findes på borger.dk og virk.dk:
Read more about student loans at borger.dk (in Danish)
Read more about payment of civil servant pension at borger.dk (for citizens)
Read more about public civil pensions at virk.dk (for companies)
Read about sickness benefit virk.dk
Read about sickness benefit at borger.dk (for companies without a CVR number)
Read about loan and benefit for business at virk.dk (in Danish)
Read about fishing loans at virk.dk (in Danish)
Read about loan and benefit for housing and construction at virk.dk (in Danish)