English

Who can receive a disability pension?

You must meet five requirements in order to be entitled to a disability pension:

• Generally, you must have been a member of the National Insurance Scheme in the three years prior to your becoming disabled. 
• You must be between 18 and 67 years old. 
• Your wage earning capacity must be impaired due to a permanent illness or injury. It is also a requirement that the illness or injury was the main reason for your impaired wage earning capacity.
• You must have undergone appropriate medical treatment as well as individualised and appropriate employment schemes to improve your wage earning capacity.
• Your wage earning capacity must have been impaired by at least 50 percent.  

Disability pension for employees

If you have been working, a disability pension will normally only be considered once you have been on sick leave for a year and subsequently undergone further medical treatment and/or employment schemes.

Disability pension for others

You may be entitled to a disability pension if you work at home or have never worked. Special regulations apply to youth.

How to apply

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 enclose the cover page at the front of your letter.

If you require assistance or further information, contact your local office of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). You can also access further information on our service line: 810 33 810. If your health condition makes it difficult for you to get to the NAV office, a case worker may also be able to visit you at home.

How much will you receive?

The disability pension is generally calculated in the same manner as the retirement pension. The disability pension consists of a basic pension and a supplementary pension. Those who receive little or no supplementary pension are entitled to a special supplement. Those who support a spouse/partner/cohabitant or children below the age of 18 may be entitled to a dependant supplement. Read more about the calculation of pensions.   

There are options for returning to work for a shorter or longer period without losing the right to a disability pension.

Dependant supplement for a spouse and children

You may be entitled to a child supplement if you have children below the age of 18 who do not support themselves. The child supplement is 40 percent of the National Insurance basic amount for each child. The child supplement is reduced if you have less than 40 years of pensionable income. The supplement may be reduced or removed if the parents have a combined income in excess of a pre-determined exempted amount.

You may be entitled to a spousal supplement if your spouse/partner/cohabitant cannot support him or herself. The spousal supplement is 50 percent of the National Insurance basic amount. The spousal supplement is reduced if you have less than 40 years of pensionable income. The spousal supplement is also reduced or remved if your income exceeds a pre-determined exempted amount.

Report changes

Changes in your income, family situation and/or work situation may affect the payment you receive from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Stays abroad may also affect your payment.  You must therefore immediately report any such changes to your local NAV office.