Supplementary benefit for disabled refugees

Who is eligible for supplementary benefit as a disabled refugee?

You must have refugee status according to section 28 of the Norwegian Immigration Act. This decision has been made by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. You must also meet the medical criteria stated in sections 12-4 to 12-7 of the National Insurance Act. This decision has been made by NAV.

You must have a residence permit and be resident in Norway.

You will receive the benefit for 12 months at a time. You must attend a follow-up meeting at your local NAV office twice during the benefit period.

The benefit is means-tested and your total income from Norway and abroad is taken into account. The income of any spouse, cohabitant or registered partner will also be taken into account. The benefit is means-tested against your wealth.

Your eligibility for supplementary benefit will lapse if you live outside Norway for more than 90 days during the benefit period.

You will not be eligible for supplementary benefit if you come to Norway due to family reunification with children, grandchildren, nephew or niece and were granted a residence permit because there was a person who guaranteed that he or she would provide for you.

How to apply

You must meet in person at your NAV office to apply. The same applies if you want to apply to renew your supplementary benefit period.

You need to bring your passport or another travel document when you meet at your NAV office. This is necessary for identification purposes and for NAV to be able to control your stays abroad.

Both when applying for the first time and if you are applying to renew your supplementary benefit, you must submit updated documentation on your gross income or pension from Norway or abroad. This applies to you and any spouse, cohabitant or partner. Payments from NAV do not need to be documented.

What you can do

You may get a quicker reply if you collect the information that your local NAV office needs to process your application.

Attachments to the application

• A copy of your passport
• A copy of your latest tax assessment notice or tax return if this is more recent, for the applicant and any spouse, cohabitant or registered partner.

What you may be entitled to?

Supplementary benefit will ensure an income equivalent to the National Insurance Scheme’s minimum disability benefit. The benefit is given with two rates, ordinary and high rate. The rate you receive depends on whether you have a spouse or live alone. The full benefit is equivalent to:

• For single benefit recipients and benefit recipients with a spouse who has not turned 67 years of age or a refugee: high rate (NOK 20,946 per month)
• For persons with a spouse over 67 years of age or who is a refugee: ordinary rate (NOK 19,257 per month)
• For persons who share a home with another adult: ordinary rate (NOK 19,257 per month)

The supplementary benefit will be reduced by the total income of the applicant or any spouse, cohabitant or registered partner. If the applicant has any property or assets, his or her application may be rejected.

You may receive back-payment for up to three months.

If you are going abroad

You must notify NAV before you travel.

If you live abroad for more than 90 days in a row or in total during a benefit period, you will no longer be eligible for the benefit.

Keep documentation of your departure from and entry into Norway. This must be submitted to NAV on your return or at the next follow-up meeting.

Institutional stays

If you stay in an institution or prison, you will receive the benefit up to the end of the month you were admitted, as well as the following month. If you are admitted on 2 October, your benefit will be stopped 1 December. Institutional stays mean stays at nursing and care homes, hospitals and rehabilitation institutions.

Duty to report any changes

If there are any changes in your income, family situation and/or work situation, or if you are planning to spend some time abroad, this may have an impact on the amount of money you are entitled to receive from NAV. You must therefore notify NAV immediately in such cases.

Current supplements

When you receive supplementary benefits as a disabled refugee, you are entitled to a concessionary card (in Norwegian). You get the card from NAV without having to ask for it. You do not lose the right to the concessionary card if you have income in addition to the benefit.

Payments

See Payment dates, holiday pay and tax withholding.

You can also check your payments in the Payment overview service.