English

Who can receive a work assessment allowance? 

It is a requirement that your ability to work has been impaired by at least 50% due to an illness or injury. The central question is not how much your overall health has been weakened, but the extent to which your ability to participate in income-generating work has been affected. 

 You can receive a work assessment allowance while you are

 

• in active treatment
• participating in employment schemes
• participating in work testing (escalating work participation following illness)
• being monitored by NAV after treatment and employment measures have been attempted 

 You can also receive a work assessment allowance 

• if you are in the process of creating an activity plan
• if you are waiting for active treatment or an employment scheme
• for up to three months while you apply for work or after having completed treatment or employment measures
•  for up to eight months while your application for a disability allowance is being evaluated
• for up to six months if you prior to again having earned the right to a sickness benefit become ill again and cannot work
• if you are a student and need active treatment in order to return to your studies and you do not have the right to receive a grant from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund during your illness 

 You must 

• live and be present in Norway
• be between 18 and 67 years of age 

If you are between 62 and 67 years old when you apply, the main rule is that you must have earned a pensionable income of at least the equivalent to the National Insurance basic amount (G) before your ability to work was impaired. Exemptions may be made.   

As a main rule, you must have been a member of the National Insurance Scheme for at least three years prior to your application. If you have been unable to work, it is sufficient that you have been a member for at least one year prior to your application. Exemptions may be made. 

If your activity plans authorises it, you can also receive an allowance 

• when you are receiving medical treatment abroad
• when you participate in employment schemes abroad
• in the event of temporary stays abroad, as long as these do not interfere with the agreed-upon activities 

You must apply to continue to receive an allowance during a temporary stay abroad prior to leaving. Any stay abroad must not interfere with NAV's ability to provide follow-up and control. 

How much will you receive? 

The work assessment allowance is the equivalent of 66 percent of your basic income. The size of your work assessment allowance depends on, for example 

• your previous income
• whether you are caring for children
• whether you receive other benefits from the National Insurance Scheme
• whether your ability to work was impaired by at least 50% prior to your turning 26
• occupational injury or occupational illness

The allowance is calculated on a day by day basis and is granted for five days per week. If you support children under 18 years of age you will receive a supplement of NOK 27 per child per day for five days a week. 

If you complete an employment scheme or an assessment, you may also apply for a supplementary allowance to cover 

• books and educational materials
• daily travel to assessments or measures
• transport costs when going home
• moving costs
• child care in connection with assessments or measures
• extra housing costs in connection with assessments or measures

Travel costs coverage instead of a work assessment allowance 

If, for a limited time period, you have problems getting to work or school due to an illness or injury, you can get an allowance to cover your extra transport costs on a day to day basis. This allowance is an alternative to a work assessment allowance. 

How long can you receive a work assessment allowance? 

The duration of your work assessment allowance depends on your need to participate in employment schemes. The main rule is nevertheless that you cannot receive a work assessment allowance for more than four years. The duration of the allowance thus varies individually. In special circumstances, the duration of the allowance may be extended beyond four years. 

When you are able to work or after having completed employment measures or treatment, you may receive a work assessment allowance for up to three months while applying for work. You must be registered with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) as a regular job-seeker. If you have applied for a disability pension, you may receive a work assessment allowance for up to eight months while your application is being assessed. 

How to apply 

You must first register with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) at nav.no or in person at your local NAV office. At your local NAV office you can also get assistance with the online registration process, information about how to use a computer to send the employment status form electronically or help with entering your CV. 

The application form can be found under "Skjema" ("Forms") in the menu on the right. When you select a form, you are automatically taken to a guide to completing the form. Here you must indicate which enclosures and what sort of documentation you must submit with your application. A cover page will also be generated. To help us process your application quickly and efficiently, please submit the information given on this cover page. Please include the cover page at the front of your letter. 

The earliest you can receive a work assessment allowance is from the date of your application. 

Application for resumption of allowance

If there is less than 52 weeks since you last received a work assessment allowance, you may apply for a resumption of the work assessment allowance on the application form for the resumption of an allowance. 

You must submit a new application on a regular form if 

• more than 52 weeks have passed since you last received a work assessment allowance
• your previous application was denied
• you were granted a work assessment allowance while applying for work (three months) 

Employment status form 

In order to receive a work assessment allowance, you must submit an employment status form every 14 days. There is more information about the employment status form under "Relatert innhold" ("Related content").

Payment and tax 

Payments are made based on the information you provide on your employment status form. There is more information about this under "Relatert innhold" ("Related content"). 

The work assessment allowance is taxed as an income and is a pensionable income.  

The work assessment allowance is paid without a tax deduction for two 14 day period in June and for the first 14 day period in December. 

Report changes 

Report changes in conditions that might affect your benefit payment to your local NAV office as soon as possible

Did you receive a decision on an application for an occupational rehabilitation allowance, a medical rehabilitation allowance or a time-limited disability benefit? 

If you received a decision on an application for an occupational rehabilitation allowance, a medical rehabilitation allowance or a time-limited disability benefit that lasted past 26 February 2010, as of 1 March 2010 this case was transformed to a work assessment allowance in accordance with the transitional rules. In the beginning of March, you were sent a letter that confirmed that your case has been transferred to a work assessment allowance. Read more about the transitional rules here:

 

• If you were receiving a medical rehabilitation allowance
• If you were receiving an occupational rehabilitation allowance
• If you were receiving a time-limited disability benefit