Benefits
Sickness benefit
Compensates for your income when you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
There is also information on sickness benefit for employers and physicians and dentists or other healthcare professional.
Who is eligible?
You may be entitled to sickness benefit if you meet the following general criteria:
- You have national insurance coverage or you are an EU/EEA citizen and you work in Norway.
- You are under the age of 70.
- You have a sick leave certificate issued by a physician, dentist, chiropractor or manual therapist.
- You are on sick leave from your job, equivalent to at least 20 percent of your regular working hours.
- Your work must provide pensionable income, i.e. income you receive as pay and pay tax on.
Nav determines whether your sick leave certificate entitles you to sickness benefit. Different rules apply depending on the type of work you do and what your situation is.
Are you a recipient of foster care benefit? (in Norwegian.) If so, you are considered a freelancer. The same applies if you are a recipient of care benefit (in Norwegian) and you do not have an employer. See separate section on freelancers.
Read more about the rules that apply to your situation:
In order to qualify for sickness benefit from Nav, you need to have worked at least four weeks prior to your sick leave. You must also have an annual income equivalent to fifty percent of the National insurance basic amount, i.e. 65,080 NOK. To calculate your annual income, Nav applies your average income from the last three months.
The same applies if you are combining work with disability benefit.
If you have a chronic condition or are pregnant
Do you have a long-term or chronic condition that could lead to frequent absences? Or are you on sick leave due to pregnancy-related symptoms?
Normally, your employer covers your sick pay for the first 16 days of your sick leave. This is called the employer liability period.
If you are frequently or unpredictably absent, you or your employer can apply for Nav to cover the sick pay your employer has been paying during the employer liability period.
If you are employed on a ship
Sickness benefit for employees on ships is normally calculated the same way as for other employees, but there are some special rules for employees on board ships that are engaged in foreign trade and registered in the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS).
- You are eligible for sickness benefit from the day your employer received notice that you are sick, which is why you should notify your employer as soon as possible. You can do this either by using self-certification (in Norwegian) or by providing a sick leave certificate. If your sickness endures beyond the self-certification period, you must contact a doctor.
- You can be eligible for sickness benefit if you are unfit for work on board a ship, even if you are healthy enough for work in another occupation.
- You are entitled to sickness benefit even if you have worked less than four weeks.
- The flag of your ship is relevant for your sickness benefit when you are on sick leave. Read more about sickness benefit within and outside the EU/EEA under Travel or move Abroad.
- If you are an employee of a tourism ship and work in hospitality, you do not have national insurance coverage and are not entitled to sickness benefit.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
Declared healthy for employment service
If you have tried every option of returning to your place of employment, you can be granted sickness benefit for a period of up to 12 weeks while you are applying for a new job.
What to do when you become sick
You are eligible for sickness benefit from the day your employer received notice that you are sick, which is why you should notify your employer as soon as possible. You can do this either by using self-certification or by providing a sick leave certificate.
If your sickness endures beyond the self-certification period, you must contact a doctor.
In order to qualify for sickness benefit from day 17 of your illness, you need to have worked at least four weeks prior to your sick leave.
Your average annual income, based on the last three years, must exceed 65,080 NOK. This is equivalent to fifty percent of the national insurance basic amount (1/2 G).
The same applies if you are combining work with disability benefit.
Farmer/reindeer herder
Who is considered a farmer?
You are considered a farmer if your last tax settlement shows self-employment income from agriculture or forestry in an amount exceeding NOK 8,000, provided this was equivalent to at least 20 percent of your total net income. You are also considered a farmer if you are able to document a future income meeting the conditions above.
Who is considered a reindeer herder?
You are considered a reindeer herder if you have the right to engage in reindeer herding in accordance with the Reindeer Act lovdata.no). To document your coverage under collective insurance, the reindeer husbandry agronomist in your grazing area must confirm that you are a registered reindeer herder.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
What to do when you become sick
The initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work. Give us notice.
If you have insurance, you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
You are entitled to sickness benefit from day 17 of your sick leave.
You must have an income exceeding NOK 65,080. This is equivalent to fifty percent of the national insurance basic amount (1/2 G).
The same applies if you are combining work with disability benefit.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
What to do when you become sick
The initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work. Give us notice.
If you have insurance, you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
Sickness benefit for fishermen is calculated in the same way as for employees and/or self-employed persons, but special rules apply for fishermen who are registered on leaf B in the fishermen’s register:
- You are entitled to sickness benefit even if you have worked less than four weeks.
- You are entitled to sickness benefit at full pay up to 6G from the first day of your absence.
Catch-sharing or wages
If you receive a share of the catch, you are considered self-employed.
If you receive wages, you are considered an employee.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
You may be entitled to sickness benefit, but that will depend on how much and how often you worked before your sick leave.
If you are a call-in replacement worker, it will be important to determine whether you meet the requirement of a qualifying period if you only worked a few shifts on and off for a time. The same qualifying rules apply as for other employees.
If you have no scheduled shifts with your employer going forward, you will normally not qualify for sickness benefit. You may still be entitled to sickness benefit if you have worked for your employer for at least three months, without going more than 14 days between shifts in the last three months before your illness. This also applies if you have been scheduled to work some shifts during the employer liability period, but there is reason to believe you would have worked more shifts than you were scheduled for.
If you are on sick leave from multiple jobs, you need a sick leave certificate for each of them. This also applies if you have multiple roles with one employer. Your sickness benefit is calculated based on your combined income from all of your jobs.
In order to qualify for sickness benefit from Nav, your average combined income from all of your jobs in the last three months must be equivalent to an annual income of at least NOK 65,080. This is equivalent to fifty percent of the national insurance basic amount (1/2 G).
If you are a recipient of foster care benefit (in Norwegian) or care benefit (in Norwegian) in combination with other income, you will be considered to have multiple jobs.
Combined income
What is a combined income?
- You work as an employee and a freelancer at the same time.
- You work as an employee and are self-employed at the same time.
- You are self-employed and work as a freelancer.
- You work as an employee and a freelancer and are self-employed.
Employee and freelancer
If you have both employment and freelancer income, your sickness benefit is calculated in accordance with the rules for employees.
You can only use self-certification (in Norwegian) from your work as an employee. As a freelancer, the initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work.
If you have freelancer insurance, you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
Employee and self-employed
If you have both employment and self-employment income, you are entitled to sickness benefit as an employee from your employment income and sickness benefit as a self-employed person from your self-employment income.
You can only use self-certification (in Norwegian) from your work as an employee. For self-employed persons, the initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work.
If you have self-employment insurance, you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
Self-employed and a freelancer
If you have both self-employment income and freelance income, your sickness benefit will be calculated in accordance with the rules for persons with both employment and self-employment income.
The initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work.
If you have self-employment (in Norwegian) or freelancer insurance (in Norwegian), you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
Employee, self-employed and a freelancer
If you have employment income, self-employment income and freelance income, your sickness benefit will be calculated in accordance with the rules for persons with both employment and self-employment income.
You can only use self-certification (in Norwegian) from your work as an employee. For self-employed persons and freelancers, the initial 16-day period starts when you contact a doctor or Nav receives notice that you are unable to work.
If you have self-employment (in Norwegian) and/or freelancer insurance (in Norwegian), you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
If you have jobs in multiple countries, Nav needs to determine whether you are entitled to sickness benefit under Norwegian law, or whether you are subject to another country’s laws. This assessment is based, among other things, on where you live, what kind of work you perform in each country and where your employers are registered.
Sometimes we have to contact social security authorities in other countries to determine this. Only one country’s laws can apply at the time you became sick.
Had you been unemployed for less than one month when you became sick? You may be entitled to sickness benefit from Nav if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are still unemployed
- You have worked less than four weeks
- Your average annual income, based on the last three years, must exceed NOK 130,160 (1G). G is the National Insurance basic amount.
Periods as a recipient of the following benefits from Nav are not considered temporary unemployment:
- Sickness benefit
- Attendance allowance, training allowance and care benefit
- Parental and pregnancy benefit
If you are on unpaid leave following your parental benefit period, you may be entitled to sickness benefit if you are so sick that you are unable to care for your child. In order to qualify for sickness benefit, you need to have an agreement to return to work at the end of your leave.
If you are between the ages of 67 and 70
You may be eligible for sickness benefit from Nav for a period of up to 60 days if your average income in the last three months before you became sick, is equivalent to an annual income exceeding 260,320 NOK (2 times the National insurance basic amount). This applies if you are between the ages of 67 and 70, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
What to do when you become sick
You need a sick leave certificate from the first day of your illness.
If you get sick while you are unemployed and you are an unemployment benefit recipient, you are entitled to sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave. You need to have received unemployment benefit or worked for a continuous period of at least four weeks to qualify for sickness benefit.
Full sick leave
If you are placed on full sick leave while you are unemployed and you are an unemployment benefit recipient, you may be entitled to sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave.
When you are on full sick leave, you will not receive unemployment benefit. Instead you can receive sickness benefit at the same rate as your unemployment benefit. You need a sick leave certificate from your doctor from the first day of your sickness.
On partial sick leave? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates – one as an employee and one as a job seeker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report if your sick leave extends beyond the employer liability period.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Submit employment status forms through your sick leave period. You must report the days you are sick on the employment status form.
- If you have been informed that your unemployment benefit have been stopped while you were sick, you must register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefit again when you are cleared for work. Unemployment benefit can be granted from the date on which you register and submit an application.
Apply for unemployment benefit here
If you are on partial sick leave
If you are placed on sick leave while you are unemployed and you are an unemployment benefit recipient, you may be entitled to sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave.
In order to receive a combination of sickness benefit and unemployment benefit, your sick leave cannot exceed 50 percent.
Your sickness benefit is calculated based on your unemployment benefit. For example, if you are placed on 80 percent sick leave, you will receive 80 percent of your unemployment benefit basis.
On partial sick leave? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates if you are placed on sick leave from your job and from being a job seeker. The two certificates are used in separate sickness benefit applications – one as an employee and one as a job seeker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report if your sick leave extends beyond the employer liability period.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- Please notify us of your sickness, so that we can coordinate the unemployment benefit with the sickness benefit.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Submit employment status forms. If you are placed on 51 percent sick leave or more, you must check off for illness on the employment status form. If you are on 50 percent sick leave or less, you should send the employment status form as usual while you are on sick leave. You should not report the illness in that case.
Why should you respond “no” when asked if you have been sick in the employment status form when you are on 50 percent sick leave or less?
We agree it sounds strange! If you add sickness days to your employment status form, deductions will be made from your unemployment benefit. Therefore, in order to get the unemployment benefit you are entitled to, you need to respond “no” when asked if you have been sick. When you have notified us of your sickness, we know that you are on sick leave even if you respond “no” on your employment status form.
Sick after returning to work
Nav will pay sickness benefit from the first day if it has been less than 4 weeks since you returned to work after being sick. If you become sick more than 4 weeks after returning to work, your employer will pay sick pay for the first 16 days of your absence.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Your employer must submit an income report that is used to calculate your sickness benefit.
If you get sick while you are laid-off and you are an unemployment benefit recipient, you are entitled to sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave. You need to have received unemployment benefit or worked for a period of at least four weeks to qualify for sickness benefit.
Full sick leave
When you are on full sick leave, you will not receive unemployment benefit. Instead you can receive sickness benefit at the same rate as your unemployment benefit. You need a sick leave certificate from your doctor from the first day of your sickness.
Only partially laid off? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates if you are placed on sick leave both from your job and from being a job seeker – one as an employee on sick leave and one for a laid-off worker on sick leave. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report if you are placed on sick leave from the part of your job you should have been performing.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Submit employment status forms through your sick leave period. Select “ja” (yes) on question 3 concerning sickness, and then select the days you have been sick.
If you are on partial sick leave
In order to receive a combination of sickness benefit and unemployment benefit, your sick leave cannot exceed 50 percent.
Your sickness benefit is calculated based on your unemployment benefit. For example, if you are placed on 80 percent sick leave, you will receive 80 percent of your unemployment benefit basis.
Only partially laid off? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates if you are placed on sick leave from your job and from being a job seeker. The two certificates are used in separate sickness benefit applications – one as an employee and one as a laid-off worker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report if you are placed on sick leave from the part of your job you should have been performing.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- Please notify us of your sickness, so that we can coordinate the unemployment benefit with the sickness benefit. Make sure to specify a start date and an end date for your sick leave. Send a message to Nav
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Submit employment status forms. If you are placed on 51 percent sick leave or more, you must check off for illness on the employment status form. If you are on 50 percent sick leave or less, you should send the employment status form as usual while you are on sick leave. You should not report the illness in that case.
Why should you respond “no” when asked if you have been sick in the employment status form when you are on 50 percent sick leave or less?
We agree it sounds strange! If you add sickness days to your employment status form, deductions will be made from your unemployment benefit. Therefore, in order to get the unemployment benefit you are entitled to, you need to respond “no” when asked if you have been sick. Even if you respond “no”, we know that you are on sick elave, because we have the sick leave certificate you submitted.
Sick after returning to work
Nav will pay sickness benefit from the first day if it has been less than 4 weeks since you returned to work after being sick. If you become sick more than 4 weeks after returning to work, your employer will pay sick pay for the first 16 days of your absence.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Your employer must submit an income report that is used to calculate your sickness benefit.
If you have completed military service, you are entitled to sickness benefit from the first day you return to work.
- You are entitled to sickness benefit even if your military service lasted less than four weeks.
- There is no minimum income requirement to qualify for sickness benefit.
- You will receive sickness benefit if you are unable to work due to becoming sick or injured during conscripted service.
- You will also be entitled to sickness benefit from the day after your conscripted service is completed (demobilisation).
This also includes
- persons who have completed conscripted service in the Home Guard
- persons who have completed conscripted service in military academies
- persons who have completed conscripted service in the auxiliary police force
- persons who have been exempted from military service and transferred to civilian work
What to do when you become sick
You are eligible for sickness benefit from the day your employer received notice that you are sick, which is why you should notify your employer as soon as possible. You can do this either by using self-certification or by providing a sick leave certificate.
If your sickness endures beyond the self-certification period, you must contact a doctor.
Normally, you are not entitled to sickness benefit as a student. If you are able to study full-time, Nav will assume that you are also able to work, but we will do a specific assessment of your situation when you became sick.
Are you on sick leave from a part-time job, but you are still able to keep up with your studies? If so, you may be entitled to sickness benefit based on your income if you have combined work with studies over a certain period.
While you are admitted to a hospital or other healthcare institution, you may be entitled to sickness benefit.
You can be granted sickness benefit for the month you are admitted and the three months after. After that, your sickness benefit will be reduced by 50 percent, provided this is not lower than a sickness benefit basis equivalent to 50 percent of the basic amount.
If you continue to have recurring, necessary expenses for housing or dependents, you may still be granted full sickness benefit.
You are not entitled to sickness benefit while in custody on remand, or while serving out a custodial sentence or special penal sanction in one of the Norwegian Correctional Service’s facilities or a similar facilities abroad.
You may be entitled to sickness benefit if you work for an employer outside the correctional facility while serving your sentence.
What can you get?
The sickness benefit is intended to replace the income you normally have, up to NOK 780,960 (6 times the National Insurance basic amount (G)).
When Nav pays sickness benefit, we calculate a sickness benefit basis that we apply. In some cases, Nav must use an estimate to calculate your sickness benefit bassis, i.e. an income Nav believes you would have had if you had not become sick.
Income from overtime work is not included in the sickness benefit basis.
If you start a new job or get a new source of income while on sick leave, your sickness benefit will be graded.
Sickness benefit and Work Assessment Allowance (AAP)
You can read more about the Work Assessment Allowance here if you think you might be entitled to it, or you can contact us if you are unsure.
As a general rule, you will not earn a new entitlement to sick leave as long as you receive AAP.
Sickness benefit from a Full-Time Position
If you are entitled to sickness benefit from a full-time position, you must generally use up your right to sickness benefit before you can receive AAP. This applies regardless of whether you are an employee, self-employed, or unemployed.
If your sickness benefit basis is less than NOK 260,320 (2 times the basic amount in the National Insurance Scheme), you can still choose between sick ness benefit and AAP.
Sickness benefit from a Part-Time Position
You may be entitled to both sickness benefit and reduced AAP at the same time if you receive sickness benefit from a part-time position. You must apply for both benefits to have your entitlement assessed.
Your employer pays your sick pay for the first 16 days of your sick leave. This is called the employer liability period. If your sick leave extends beyond this period, Nav will pay your sickness benefit. Nav grants sickness benefit up to NOK 780,960 (6G).
Your sickness benefit is calculated based on your income in the last three months prior to your becoming sick.
If your sick leave is caused by an occupational injury, you may also have other, additional rights. For this to apply, your sick leave must be caused entirely by the occupational injury, and Nav must have approved the occupational injury.
Nav will set aside holiday pay on your sickness benefit. The holiday pay is calculated based on the first 48 days of sickness benefit per calendar year.
Temporary employment
You are entitled to sickness benefit as an employee during your employment period. If your sick leave extends beyond the end date of your employment, your sickness benefit may be reassessed.
Self-employed persons are entitled to sickness benefit from day 17 of their sick leave. The sickness benefit is equivalent to 80 percent of the sickness benefit basis. You can choose to take out insurance to cover more of the lost income.
The sickness benefit basis is normally calculated based on the average of your pensionable annual income as self-employed from the last three tax settlements. This does not apply if there has been a permanent change.
Are there permanent changes in your work situation or your business? Or have you recently become self-employed?
Nav will calculate your sickness benefit basis based on your documented self-employment income.
In these cases, you should also include documentation of expected income in your application.
Examples of such documentation includes
- income statement for the current year, specifying information about gross income, deductions and net self-employment income
- personal income form from last year
- documentation of advance tax payments
- transcript of advance tax basis from the Tax Administration
Self-employed persons are not entitled to holiday pay on their sickness benefit.
You can choose to take out insurance to cover more of the lost income.
If your sick leave is caused by an occupational injury, and you have a separate occupational injury insurance, you may also have other, additional rights. For this to apply, your sick leave must be caused entirely by the occupational injury, and Nav must have approved the occupational injury.
Farmers and reindeer herders
You are entitled to sickness benefit from day 17 of your sick leave, and you can be granted sickness benefit equivalent to 80 percent of your income.
- You may be covered by a collective insurance policy that entitles you to full sickness benefit up to NOK 780,960 (6G). Please contact the Tax Administration to find out whether you are covered by this insurance.
- In addition, you can take out an individual insurance policy for farmers and reindeer herders that entitles you to full pay for the initial 16 days of your sick leave. Read more about insurance for farmers and reindeer herders (in Norwegian).
Freelancers are entitled to sickness benefit from day 17 of their sick leave. If you have insurance (in Norwegian), you may be entitled to sickness benefit during the initial 16-day period as well, but this requires a sick leave certificate.
The sickness benefit is equivalent to 100 percent of the sickness benefit basis. The calculation is based on the average of your freelance income reported to the A-ordning in the last 3 calendar months prior to your becoming sick. The rules for calculating the sickness benefit are the same as for employees.
Freelancers are not entitled to holiday pay on their sickness benefit.
If your sick leave is caused by an occupational injury, and you have a separate occupational injury insurance, you may also have other, additional rights. For this to apply, your sick leave must be caused entirely by the occupational injury, and Nav must have approved the occupational injury.
If you receive a share of the catch, your sickness benefit is calculated in accordance with the rules for self-employed persons. If you receive wages, your sickness benefit is calculated in accordance with the rules for employees. If you receive both a share of the catch and wages, your sickness benefit is calculated in accordance with both sets of rules. Read more in the section on multiple jobs below.
If you are registered on leaf B of the fishermen’s register, you are covered by a collective insurance that entitles you to full sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave. You are entitled to sickness benefit even if you have worked less than four weeks.
If you are a call-in replacement worker, you are normally considered an employee, and the rules for employees will apply to you.
If you work as a call-in replacement worker in your own business or as a freelancer, your sickness benefit is calculated in accordance with the rules for other self-employed persons or freelancers.
If you have multiple jobs, your sickness benefit is calculated based on your combined income, capped at NOK 780,960 (6G). This applies even if you are not on sick leave from all of your jobs/assignments.
Loss of income and payment:
- If your combined income is less than 6G, your sickness benefit payment will be equal to your lost income.
- If your combined income exceeds 6G:
- If you have more than one employer who pays sick pay while you are sick and you are on sick leave from all of your jobs, your sickness benefit is distributed based on your employment percentage with each employer.
- If you have one employer who pays sick pay while you are on sick leave and one employer who doesn’t, the employer who pays sick pay will receive reimbursement for their entire claim, capped at 6G. If your income from this employer is less than 6G, you will receive the remaining amount.
- If you are self-employed in addition to having an employer who pays sick pay while you are on sick leave, your employer will receive reimbursement for their entire claim, capped at 6G. If your income from this employer is less than 6G, you will receive the remaining amount.
- If you have freelance income in addition to having an employer who pays sick pay while you are on sick leave, your employer will receive reimbursement for their entire claim, capped at 6G. If your income from this employer is less than 6G, you will receive the remaining amount.
- If you have employment income and/or freelance income exceeding 6G and your sick leave only covers our self-employment activity, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
If you have been unemployed for less than a month, you may qualify for sickness benefit from the 15th day of your sick leave. The sickness benefit is equivalent to 65 percent of the sickness benefit basis if you are not working, and 100 percent if you are working when you become sick.
If you are an unemployment benefit recipient, you will receive sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave. Your sickness benefit payment will be the same as your unemployment benefit payment.
If you have been laid off and are receiving unemployment benefit, you will receive sickness benefit from the first day of your sick leave. Your sickness benefit payment will be the same as your unemployment benefit payment.
If you have completed military or civilian national service, you have the same rights to sickness benefit as employees, but with the following special conditions:
- The sickness benefit basis is calculated based on your employment and income situation prior to your service.
- If your service lasted, or was supposed to last, more than 28 days, a minimum basis of NOK 260,320 (2G) will be applied.
You can be granted sickness benefit for the month you are admitted and the three months after. After that, your sickness benefit will be reduced by 50 percent, provided this is not lower than a sickness benefit basis equivalent to 50 percent of the basic amount.
If you continue to have recurring, necessary expenses for housing or dependents, you may still be granted full sickness benefit.
Part-time student
- Are you on sick leave from a part-time job, but you are still able to keep up with your studies? If so, you may be entitled to sickness benefit based on your income if you have combined work with studies over a certain period.
- Are you able to keep working, but have to interrupt your studies due to sickness? If so, you may be entitled to work assessment allowance as a student. The allowance is calculated based on the number of hours you work.
- If you are placed on sick leave from your part-time job and have to interrupt your studies, you may be entitled to sickness benefit in combination with work assessment allowance.
Illness grant from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen)
If you become sick and are unable to attend class, you may be entitled to an illness grant from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen).
If your employer refuses to accept your sick leave certificate
Sometimes, an employer may refuse to pay sick pay for the first 16 days of your sick leave. If your employer refuses to accept your sick leave certificate, you may apply to Nav for sickness benefit for these 16 days.
Your employer does not have a right to information about your medical history or your diagnosis. Sometimes your employer may still question whether or not you are entitled to sick pay.
Below are some examples of situations that may lead your employer to question your sick leave certificate:
- If the sick leave certificate is issued in connection with lay-offs, strike, bankruptcy, termination, labour disputes, life crises, difficult situations or holidays.
- If you participate in activities that suggest you would have been able to work.
- If you have failed to give notice of your sickness or only gave notice after 14 days.
- If your sick leave certificate has been back-dated, even if it would have been possible for you to see a doctor.
- If your doctor expresses doubt as to whether or not you are able to work.
You can apply digitally by logging in and sending a message to Nav. Include the following in your message:
"My employer will not pay sickness benefit during the employer period. I am applying for Nav to pay the sickness benefit". Then include the following information:
- The name, address and telephone number of your employer
- The date you notified your employer of your sickness
- The method of your notice (telephone, text message, e-mail, etc.)
- The person you notified
- The date you presented the sick leave certificate
- Whether you have been abroad during your sick leave – and if so, where and when
- Whether you have worked at all during the period – and if so, for whom and how much
- Your side of the story and comment on why your employer has not paid you any sick pay
If you want an application on paper, you can request this by contacting us.
After you apply, we will determine whether you are entitled to sickness benefit, both for the 16 initial days and, if relevant, from day 17.
We will collect information from your employer and from the person who issued the medical certiifcate if needed.
You will receive a written response once we have finished processing your application. It may take a little longer to process this type of application.
The sickness benefit period will depend on your age.
The maximum sickness benefit period is 52 weeks. The last day of the sickness benefit period is also called the maximum date. The limit is the same regardless of whether your sick leave is full or partial.
- Sick leaves dating back 3 years will be added up if there is less than 26 weeks between sick leaves.
- If you have exhausted your 52 weeks, an additional 26 weeks must pass without sickness benefit or work assessment allowance must pass before your right to sickness benefit can be reassessed. When you apply for sickness benefit after this time, all of the qualification criteria will be assessed again. Read more about this in the section “Who is eligible?”.
- If you are receiving work assessment allowance as a job seeker, you may start to accumulate new sickness benefit rights.
If you have received sickness benefit for 52 weeks and still are unable to work due to sickness or injury, you may be entitled to work assessment allowance or disability benefit.
You may be entitled to sickness benefit for a period of up to 60 days, regardless of whether or not you are claiming retirement pension.
The 60-day rule applies from the day after you turn 67 years old through the day before you turn 70 years old. If you have turned 70 years old, you are not entitled to sickness benefit.
Are you able to work, but struggle to travel to and from your place of work? If so, you may be entitled to travel allowance instead of sickness benefit from day 17 after your sick leave ends.
Apply, forward or complain
You apply for sickness benefit after your sick leave is over. In the application, you specify how many hours you worked in the period. This allows us to adjust the sickness benefit accordingly, to ensure the payment is correct.
If your sick leave is longer than 31 days, it will automatically be split up, and you will be able to apply for sickness benefit before your entire sick leave is over. You will receive a message when the application is ready to be filled out. You can also check the date by logging in to Ditt sykefravær.
Normally, you have to apply for sickness benefit within three months.
You can still submit an application after this date, but sickness benefit will only be granted if one of the following exemptions applies:
- You have clearly not been able to submit the application sooner, or
- You have not applied sooner because you have received misleading information from Nav.
Example:
If you want sickness benefit for sick leave days in May, you need to apply no later than the end of August. If you also were on sick leave in April, you need to apply for sickness benefit for these days by the end of July.
The difference between the sick leave certificate and the application for sickness benefit
The sick leave certificate includes information about the scope and duration of the sick leave. It also includes important information from the doctor on how to improve the chances of being able to work while sick. The sick leave certificate should ideally be sent to the employer the first day an employee is absent, so that the follow-up process can begin.
The application for sickness benefit is submitted at the end of the sick leave period, and you provide information about what happened during your absence, e.g. if you were able to work some or whether you were on holiday leave. The information you provide is relevant for the sickness benefit paid by Nav.
Read more about what to do and how to apply in different situations:
First you need to present the sick leave certificate to your employer. Log in to Ditt sykefravær on nav.no and send the sick leave certificate from there. If you have received a sick leave certificate on paper, wait a few days and then it will show up digitally under Ditt sykefravær.
- When the sick leave is over, you can apply for sickness benefit. You will receive a message when the application is ready to be filled out in Ditt sykefravær. You submit the application from Ditt sykefravær. Please note: You must submit an application for sickness benefit even if your employer continues to pay you while you are sick. Your employer will claim reimbursement from Nav based on your application. You must also submit an application even if your absence is limited to the 16-day employer liability period.
- In the application you specify whether you were able to work some while on sick leave, whether you returned to work sooner than expected, whether you worked abroad, whether you travelled outside the EU/EEA, and any other information we need to process your application.
- Once you have submitted your application for sickness benefit, Nav will be able to process your application, but only after your employer has submitted information about your income (income statement). If there are any standing deductions from your pay, your employer must also fill out the form for deductions.
Application for sickness benefits for employees
When you are placed on sick leave, do the following to apply for sickness benefit:
- Select “selvstendig næringsdrivende” as your situation on the certificate.
- Submit an application for sickness benefit when the sick leave period is over. For the first 16 days of the sick leave period, an application will only be created if you have insurance and has selected this in the certificate.
- In the first application for sickness benefit you will be asked some additional questions to determine if you need to submit documentation of your income or other information. If we need documentation, you will be forwarded to a page where you can attach files. It will specify what kind of documentation we need from you. If you do not have the documentation to hand, you can submit your application without it. This will crete a task on Min side on nav.no, reminding you to submit the documentation later.
- If you submit your application on paper, you must also fill out and submit the income information form.
Income information for self-employed or freelancers who need sickness benefits
Application for sickness benefits for employees
When you are placed on sick leave, do the following to apply for sickness benefit:
- Select “frilanser” as your situation on the certificate.
- Submit an application for sickness benefit when the sick leave period is over. For the first 16 days of the sick leave period, an application will only be created if you have insurance and has selected this in the certificate.
Nav normally applies the income reported through the A-melding to calculate your sickness benefit. If we need additional information or documentation, we will contact you.
Income information for self-employed or freelancers who need sickness benefits
Application for sickness benefits for employees
When you are placed on sick leave, do the following to apply for sickness benefit:
- Select “Fisker” as your situation on the certificate.
- Select “Blad A (biyrke fisker)” or “Blad B (hovedyrke fisker)”.
- Specify whether you receive wages, a share of the catch or both.
- Submit an application for sickness benefit when the sick leave period is over.
- Submit the income information form if you receive a share of the catch. If you only receive wages, we will get income information from your employer.
If you receive wages, but you are not registered in the Employer/Employee Register (Aa-register), submit your sick leave certificate to Nav and select share of catch instead of wages.
Income information for self-employed or freelancers who need sickness benefits
Application for sickness benefits for employees
Application for sickness benefits when you are temporarily out of work
Use this form if it is less than a month since your previous employment ended, you receive pay after termination of employment/severance pay, are on educational leave, or you have started a new employment without having new accrual for sickness benefits.
Application to retain sickness benefits during stay abroad
Use this application if you wish to leave the EU/EEA while you are on sick leave and at the same time wish to keep your sickness benefits. You should submit your application before you travel to make sure you keep your sickness benefits during your trip.
You are only entitled to sickness benefits during your stay outside the EU/EEA for 4 weeks during a twelve-month period.
If you are going to take a statutory holiday, you shall not apply. Instead, tick the box for holiday in the application for sickness benefits that is sent after the sick leave period is over.
Documentation of sickness benefits when living abroad
If you are permanently residing abroad and need to submit documentation relating to sickness benefits, please send this together with a cover sheet.
Personal declaration for foreign sick leave
You must complete this form if you are on sick leave from a doctor outside Norway. Enclose your sick leave notification and send it to Nav.
If you have received a sick leave certificate from a doctor in another EEA country, this sick leave certificate will also be valid in Norway.
Some foreign certificates are digitised. If you confirm the certificate on nav.no, it will be forwarded to your employer the same way as Norwegian sick leave certificates. This means you will also be able to submit your application for sickness benefit digitally. In order to use a digital sick leave certificate and submit a digital application for sickness benefit, you need BankID, Comfides or Buypass.
If your certificate is not digitised, or you are not able to log in to Ditt sykefravær, you must submit a copy of the foreign sick leave certificate to Nav and to your employer. You must also submit a personal declaration for foreign sick leave certificates for each sick leave period.
Nav will normally not accept sick leave certificates issued by doctors in countries outside the EEA.
Personal declaration for foreign sick leave
You must complete this form if you are on sick leave from a doctor outside Norway. Enclose your sick leave notification and send it to Nav.
If you do not have BankID, if you do not have identification at the highest level of security or if your registered address is secret, you need to use part D of the paper-based sick leave certificate to apply for sickness benefit. Find the right address (in Norwegian).
If you have an employer, you need to present part C of the sick leave certificate to your employer. Part D – the application – should be submitted to the party paying sickness benefit.
This is how we process personal data (in Norwegian)
We will begin processing your application for sickness benefit once we receive your application and the income information from your employer.
You can change your application up to one year after you submitted it, should you need to change something.
You can find the sick leave certificate and your application for sickness benefit by logging in to nav.no.
Processing time for applications
The processing time is calculated from the time Nav has received all necessary documentation. This also includes the income statement from your employer.
| Case concerns | Expected case processing time |
|---|---|
First-time application | 8 weeks |
Extension | 8 weeks |
International first-time application | 10 weeks |
| International application - extension | 10 weeks |
Dispute | 4 months |
Have you received a decision from us that you think is wrong? You can complain to the Nav Unit that issued the decision. They will reassess your case. If they do not agree with your complaint, they will forward it to the Nav Appeals Management Unit.
If something is incorrect in your application for sickness benefit, you can correct this yourself within one year under Ditt sykefravær.
Complain about a decision
The decision will have information about how to proceed if you want to complain, where to send your complaint and the term of complaint. If you have questions about the decision, you can contact us.
Appeal a decision
If you disagree with the decision of your complaint from the the Nav Appeals Management Unit, you can, with some exceptions, appeal the decision. The deadline for appealing is stated in the decision.
You can also use a lawyer or give a power of attorney to a person who complains on your behalf.
Processing time for complaints and appeals
Have you received a decision from us that you think is wrong? You can complain to the Nav Unit that issued the decision. They will reassess your case. If they do not agree with your complaint, they will forward it to the Nav Appeals Management Unit.
| Case concerns | Expected Case Processing Time |
|---|---|
Complaint to the Nav unit | 12 weeks |
Complaint to the Nav Appeals Management Unit | 3 months |
Appeals to the Nav Appeals Management Unit | 3 months |
When you are receiving sickness benefit
When you are receiving sickness benefit
There are some rules you must follow while on sick leave. You must help facilitate your own return to work. You are often the one who is most knowledgeable about your health and your tasks at work. It is therefore important that you work with your doctor, your employer and Nav to ensure you can return to work as soon as possible.
When you are on sick leave, it is your duty to work or participate in other work-oriented activity if you are able. This is called the duty to act.
In some cases you can be exempted from the duty to act:
- If there is a significant medical reason you cannot be active. The doctor putting you on sick leave must document this by providing detailed medical information in the medical ceritifcate.
- If it is not possible for you to do activities in the workplace. If so, your employer must justify this in the follow-up plan, which is to be sent to the doctor and to Nav.
You must accept offers of evaluation, treatment and adaptation. This is called the duty to contribute.
The duty to act and the duty to contribute are in effect throughout your sick leave period:
- Within 4 weeks, you and your employer must prepare a follow-up plan (in Norwegian), which describes how you can return to work as soon as possible.
- If you are not working or participating in work-oriented activity within 8 weeks, Nav must assess whether you have fulfilled your duty to act.
- If your sick leave period is shorter than 12 weeks, we will assess your fitness for work in light of the job you have. If your sick leave becomes long-term, we will also assess whether it would be possible for you to do other types of work.
To keep your sickness benefit, the main rule is that you must participate in work-oriented activity. This means that you do a little work, even though you are on sick leave.
You can either perform some of your normal duties, or you can do other types of work around the workplace. You and your employer can get help from an independent consultant (in Norwegian) with expertise on sickness absence and the working environment.
It is important that you maintain a good dialogue with the person who placed you on sick leave about what it would take for you to work a little bit. Your doctor must always consider whether there are significant medical reasons for you being absent from work, both for the initial sick leave certificate and subsequent ones. If you are able to perform some of your normal duties, you should be placed on partial sick leave (in Norwegian).
If you work some hours, you specify these in your application for sickness benefit. Your sickness benefit will be adjusted proportionate to how much you work.
The same applies if you start a new job while on sick leave.
Your employer has a duty to follow up on you while you are on sick leave. If you do not have an employer, Nav is responsible for your follow-up.
Your duty to act is closely tied to your employer’s duty and potential adaptation. If it is not possible for your employer to adapt the workplace or your duties to allow you to work, your employer must document this in the follow-up plan (in Norwegian), which is submitted to Nav.
Employer follow-up of sickness absence
Your employer has the primary responsibility for implementing adaptations and following up on you. That is why it is important that you keep in close contact while you are out on sick leave.
Your employer has a duty to make adaptations for you if it is possible to do so. You have a duty to cooperate on finding solutions to ensure that your absence does not become unnecessarily long. You have to be prepared to do other suitable work if it is not possible for you to perform your normal duties.
These are the most important follow-up activities:
- Within 4 weeks: The employer must initiate the development of a follow-up plan (in Norwegian) in consultation with you. You have to approve the plan, and the person who placed you on sick leave should be provided with a copy when it is ready.
- Within 7 weeks: Your employer must summon you to dialogue meeting 1 (in Norwegian). Others may also participate as needed, such as the person who placed you on sick leave, the occupational health service, Nav and the employee representative or safety representative. You have to consent to invite the person who placed you on sick leave.
- 8 weeks: Nav and the person who placed you on sick leave will assess whether you can be placed on partial sick leave, possibly with workplace adaptations.
- Within 6 months: Nav will assess whether a dialogue meeting 2 (in Norwegian) is needed before you have been absent for 26 weeks. This dialogue meeting will not be held if it is not necessary, e.g if you are about to return to work or it has been documented that you are severely ill.
Nav can help you and your employer find the potential for adapted work. If you want assistance from Nav, you can request a dialogue meeting (in Norwegian) with us.
Read more about following up on people out on sick leave (in Norwegian).
If the employment is terminated while you are on sick leave, you must notify Nav immediately. The Nav office will provide you with the help and follow-up you need.
If you don’t have an employer, you will communicate with your Nav office. You will receive an activity plan with Nav if your sick leave becomes long term. In the digital activity plan, which you can create on nav.no, you can communicate directly with your Nav consultant.
We will begin processing your application for sickness benefit once we receive your application and the income information from your employer.
In your payment overview the payment will be added the evening of the day the transfer was made.
Processing time for applications
The processing time is calculated from the time Nav has received all necessary documentation. This also includes the income statement from your employer.
| Case concerns | Expected case processing time |
|---|---|
First-time application | 8 weeks |
Extension | 8 weeks |
International first-time application | 10 weeks |
| International application - extension | 10 weeks |
Dispute | 4 months |
Processing time for complaints and appeals
Have you received a decision from us that you think is wrong? You can complain to the Nav Unit that issued the decision. They will reassess your case. If they do not agree with your complaint, they will forward it to the Nav Appeals Management Unit.
| Case concerns | Expected Case Processing Time |
|---|---|
Complaint to the Nav unit | 12 weeks |
Complaint to the Nav Appeals Management Unit | 3 months |
Appeals to the Nav Appeals Management Unit | 3 months |
If we grant your application before the 20th of the same month as your sick leave period, you will receive payment by the 25th of that month. If not, you will normally receive the sickness benefit within 5 days of Nav granting your application.
If the application covers leave days in two different calendar months, the payment may be split into two.
In December, the benefit is paid on the 12th, provided we have granted your application before 6 December. Applications granted after 6 December will be paid within 5 days.
The date on which you receive your sickness benefit will depend on your sick leave period and when we grant your application.
Example 1
You are on sick leave from 1 April through 14 April. We grant your application on 15 April. You will receive sickness benefit for the entire leave period on 25 April.
If we grant your application after the 20th of the month, you will normally receive payment within 5 days.
Example 2
You are on sick leave from 15 April through 25 April. We grant your application on 28 April. You will normally receive sickness benefit for the entire period within 5 days after 28 April, i.e. within 2 May.
If we grant your application after the end of month your application covers, you will normally receive payment within 5 days.
Example 3
You are on sick leave from 28 February through 15 March. We grant your application on 18 May. You will normally receive sickness benefit for the entire period within 5 days after 18 May, i.e. within 23 May.
Example 4
You are on sick leave from 25 March through 5 April. We grant your application on 7 April. You will normally receive sickness benefit for 25–31 March within 5 days after 7 April, i.e. within 12 April. You will receive sickness benefit for 1–5 April on 25 April.
If you are an employee or a freelancer or if you receive a monetary benefit from Nav, Nav will withhold tax on your payments.
Holiday pay is paid in May the year after the holiday pay was accumulated.
Employees who receive sickness benefit from Nav will receive holiday pay for the first 48 days of sick leave in the accumulation year. If your employer has advanced payment of the sickness benefit, Nav will transfer the holiday pay to your employer.
Holiday pay is equivalent to 10.2 percent of the sickness benefit qualifying you for holiday pay. For employees who turn 59 years old or older in the accumulation year, this percentage has been increased to 12.5 percent.
If the benefit period begins in one calendar year and ends in the next, you will only receive holiday pay this year for the sick leave days you had last calendar year. You can only accumulate holiday pay on a maximum of 48 sick leave days for each accumulation year.
The holiday pay for the current calendar year is paid in next year’s holiday pay payment.
The period used for the payment of holiday pay, which will be specified on your notice of payment, is 1–31 May in the payment year.
Have there been changes in your income or job situation? Are you planning to move abroad? This could affect the amount you receive from Nav. That is why you must report all changes to Nav immediately.
If you are thinking about travelling while on sick leave, there are some things you need to check.
- You need to check with your employer that your trip will not interfere with planned follow-up and activity in the workplace.
- You must actively participate in the process of returning to work in order to qualify for sickness benefit. You need to ensure that your trip will not interfere with activities you have agreed with Nav. If you are not sure, you can write to us from nav.no.
- You need to check with the person who placed you on sick leave to make sure travelling will not make your health situation worse and that it will not interfere with planned treatment.
The rules that apply depend on where you are going.
If you are travelling within the Nordic countries, you do not need to apply to keep your sickness benefit, but you need to check that your trip is not in conflict with your duty to act (in Norwegian).
If you are an EU/EEA national and you are travelling to a country within the EU/EEA, you do not need to apply to Nav in advance, but you need to check that your trip is not in conflict with your duty to act (in Norwegian).
If you are not an EU/EEA national you need to apply to keep your sickness benefit if you are travelling outside the Nordic countries.
If you are a national of a country outside of the EU/EEA, you need to use the paper-based application.
If you are travelling outside the EU/EEA, you are normally not entitled to sickness benefit. You can still apply to Nav to keep your sickness benefit for up to 4 weeks in a 12-month period. If you want to be sure what the outcome will be, you should apply before you travel.
Application to retain sickness benefits during stay abroad
What will happen with your sickness benefit while you travel?
- If your trip extends your sickness absence or interferes with planned activities, you risk your sickness benefit being suspended while you are travelling.
- If your sickness benefit is suspended, you also risk your sickness benefit being recalculated using a new and lower basis when you return from your trip.
- If you are travelling for 4 weeks or more and your sickness benefit is suspended during this period, you also risk your new application for sickness benefit being denied.
You can take holiday leave while on sick leave, but you will not receive sickness benefit during your holiday leave.
When you take statutory holiday leave, you should therefore not apply to keep your sickness benefit, even if you are travelling outside Norway. Instead, select the box for holiday leave in the application for sickness benefit.
The sickness benefit will be suspended while you are on holiday leave, and the end date for your right to sickness benefit will be pushed forward.
See what applies in your situation:
If you have started your holiday leave and become sick, you may be entitled to defer your holiday leave. This is something you have to agree with your employer. If your holiday leave is deferred, respond “nei” (no) to the question of whether you have been on holiday leave. If your holiday leave is not deferred and you take your holiday leave as planned, respond “ja” (yes) to the question of whether you have been on holiday leave.
Are you on partial sick leave? Respond “ja” (yes) to the holiday leave question if you are on scheduled holiday leave during your sick leave period. Persons on partial sick leave cannot agree to defer their holiday leave.
It is not possible to use holiday leave for the days you were supposed to work and receive sickness benefit for the other days.
Are you a teacher?
As a teacher, you are normally on holiday leave for the entirety of July. Days off before and after July are considered compensatory time off. Days off in connection Easter, winter and autumn school holidays are considered compensatory time off. If you become sick during July and cannot take holiday leave as scheduled because you are sick, you can defer your holiday leave. This applies regardless of whether you became sick before your holiday leave or during your holiday leave. If you want to defer your holiday leave, you need to reach an agreement with your employer. You are entitled to sickness benefit for your days of compensatory time off, and you should not specify that you were on holiday leave during your compensatory time off.
Are you self-employed or a freelancer?
Self-employed persons and freelancers are not entitled to statutory holiday leave like employees are. If you are planning to travel to a country outside the EU/EEA, read more about this here.
Compensatory time off is not the same as holiday leave. Compensatory time off is time you have worked to accumulate. If your days off are compensatory time off, respond “nei” (no) to the question of whether you have been on holiday leave. Some people combine compensatory time off with holiday leave for time off work. Respond no to holiday leave for the days that are compensatory time off. Respond yes to holiday leave for the days you are actually on holiday leave. If you are not sure whether your time off is considered holiday leave or compensatory time off, please speak with your employer.
Senior leave days are not the same as holiday leave. If you are sick on a senior leave day, respond no to the holiday leave question. You are entitled to sickness benefit for those days.
A public holiday when you would normally be off work is not considered holiday leave. You should therefore respond no to the holiday leave question. If your scheduled holiday leave period includes one or more public holidays, however, you should respond yes to the holiday leave question.
Do you have multiple jobs, and you are not on sick leave from all of them? If you are taking holiday leave from the job you are not on sick leave from, you should respond no to the holiday leave question.
Read more about how to handle various situations:
If you are able to partially work, you should be on partial sick leave. The purpose of this is to maintain contact with the workplace and utilise your remaining capacity for work – provided this is medically sound.
The person who placed you on sick leave should always assess your capacity for work. Adaptations are often necessary.
If you can work more than your sick leave percentage indicates, you are allowed to do so. When you submit your application for sickness benefit, you must report all the hours you have worked. Your sickness benefit will be graded based on the amount of work you do.
You can return to work before your sick leave period is over, and you do not need to notify Nav in advance. It is also not necessary to ask your doctor to declare you fit for work. You agree to return to work with your employer. If you do not want to use your sick leave and you have already submitted the sick leave certificate, you can cancel your application when it is ready or respond that you have been declared fit for work, including the date.
You have insurance
If you are on full sick leave, you are covered by your occupational injuries insurance if you return to work before your sick leave period is over. The condition is that your employer can confirm that you have agreed that you will return to work. There are no special requirements for how such confirmation should be given. If there is a claim, it is sufficient that your employer confirms to us that you have agreed that you will return to work. Confirmation can be given verbally or in writing.
Full sick leave
You can be laid off even if you are on full sick leave. If this happens, you will still receive sickness benefit from Nav, capped at 6 times the National Insurance basic amount (G).
If you are still laid off when your sick leave period ends, you will normally receive pay from your employer for the first 15 days. After that, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit.
You need a sick leave certificate from a doctor in order to receive sickness benefit when you have been laid off. You can not use self-certification.
Only partially laid off? Since you were on full sick leave before you were laid off, you only need one sick leave certificate as an employee.
This is what you have to do:
- We need a copy of the lay-off notice you received from your employer, so that we can accurately calculate your sickness benefit. You can submit this notice by uploading it digitally or mailing it in.
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Your employer must submit an income report that is used to calculate your sickness benefit.
When you are declared fit for work, register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit can be granted from the date on which you register and submit an application.
If you are on partial sick leave
You can be laid off from the part of your job you are not on sick leave from. After your employer pays you for 15 days, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit for the part of your job you are not on sick leave from, provided that you are on 50 percent sick leave or less.
If you are on 51 percent sick leave or higher, you cannot combine unemployment benefit with sickness benefit. You will then receive sickness benefit for the part of your job you are on sick leave from.
Only partially laid off? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates. The two certificates are used in separate sickness benefit applications – one as an employee and one as a laid-off worker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit.
This is what you have to do:
- We need a copy of the lay-off notice you received from your employer, so that we can accurately calculate your sickness benefit. You can submit this notice by uploading it digitally or mailing it in.
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Your employer must submit an income report that is used to calculate your sickness benefit.
When the lay-off period begins, you can register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit can be granted from the date on which you register and submit an application.
Full sick leave
You may still be entitled to sickness benefit if you become unemployed during your sick leave period. If this happens, you will still receive sickness benefit from Nav, capped at 6 times the National Insurance basic amount (G).
Nav will assume responsibility for your follow-up, since you will no longer have an employer.
If you are still unemployed when you are declared fit for work, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit.
On partial sick leave? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates if you are placed on sick leave from your job and from being a job seeker. The two certificates are used in separate sickness benefit applications – one as an employee and one as a job seeker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Notify us if you have become unemployed. Send a message to Nav
- When you are declared fit for work, register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit can be granted from the date on which you register and submit an application. If you have problems with the registration, you can use the Skriv til oss option.
If you are on partial sick leave
In order to receive a combination of sickness benefit and unemployment benefit, your sick leave cannot exceed 50 percent. Nav will assume responsibility for your follow-up, since you will no longer have an employer.
On partial sick leave? Ask your doctor for two sick leave certificates if you are placed on sick leave from your job and from being a job seeker. The two certificates are used in separate sickness benefit applications – one as an employee and one as a job seeker. We need the two different applications to correctly calculate your sickness benefit. Your employer must submit an income report.
This is what you have to do:
- Send your sick leave certificate to us via Ditt sykefravær on nav.no.
- The day after your sick leave period is over, you will receive a text message informing you that you can fill out the application for sickness benefit.
- Notify us if you have become unemployed. Send a message to Nav
You have to register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit can be granted from the date on which you register and submit an application.
Sometimes it is possible to function better in a different job from the one you were placed on sick leave from. A new job can be an option if
- it is difficult for you to perform the duties you had before you became sick
- there are other factors in your workplace that makes it difficult for you to handle the job
Speak with one of our consultants about what could make it easier for you to find a new job.
Go to arbeidsplassen.no to see job listings from all over the country. You can also add or update your CV here.
If you have tried every option of returning to your place of employment, you can be granted sickness benefit for a period of up to 12 weeks while you are applying for a new job. This is limited to the 52-week maximum sickness benefit period.
If you are looking for a new job for a short time, applying for unemployment benefit could be a better choice. The earliest date from which you can be granted unemployment benefit is the date on which you apply for unemployment benefit and register as a job seeker.
In some cases, Nav can approve your education as an employment scheme while you are receiving sickness benefit or work assessment allowance.
Your local Nav office will assess your situation and determine which documentation is needed for your application. Read more about how you can contact us.
You can continue to work in other jobs while you are on sick leave from one or some of your jobs, but this could affect your sickness benefit payments.
Your payments will be adjusted based on how much work you are doing in your other jobs, compared to before you were placed on sick leave.
If you increase your workload with one employer while being on sick leave from another, you need to notify Nav to prevent incorrect payments.
When there is less than 90 days left of your maximum sickness benefit period, you will receive a statement with information on Min side or in the mail.
As you approach the end of your sickness benefit period, it is important to plan ahead.
Do you think you are ready to return to work soon, or du you need more guidance? Perhaps you need to find a new job?
If you have not received any information about your sickness benefit period coming to an end, and you think there are fewer than 90 working days left in your sickness benefit period, please contact us. We can help you determine how long you have been receiving sickness benefit and when the period ends.
Have you spoken with your employer?
Your employer is responsible for following up on you while you are sick and for as long as you are employed. Your employer must, as far as possible, adapt your workplace and tasks to allow you to work.
It is your responsibility to be involved and find solutions so that you can return to work. Talk to your manager to explore potential adaptation opportunities and how you can plan the start-up together.
Your employer is responsible for following up on you while you are on sick leave, as long as you remain an employee of theirs. Your employer must, as much as possible, adapt the workplace and your duties to enable you to return to work.
You have a responsibility to help find solutions that can help you return to work. Speak with your supervisor and explore the adaptation potential, and how you can plan your return.
If it is clear to you that you are not healthy enough to return to work, applying for work assessment allowance (AAP) may be the best option for you. You need to apply for AAP yourself.
AAP may be granted from the day your sickness benefit period ends, but not before your application date. That is why it is important to apply in good time before your maximum sickness benefit period ends.
If you have exhausted your 52 weeks, an additional 26 weeks must pass without sickness benefit or work assessment allowance must pass before your right to sickness benefit can be reassessed. When you apply for sickness benefit after this time, all of the qualification criteria will be assessed again.
Contact Nav or speak with your consultant about this.
Sickness benefit is the only benefit that compensates for 100 percent of your income, up to 6G. That is why you need to be prepared for a drop in income after the 52-week sickness benefit period. You may be entitled to other financial support from Nav if you are unable to work. This support is subject to application. Your situation will determine which options you have.
Check your insurance coverage and pension rights
You could also explore whether you have rights vis-à-vis your insurance company or pension fund. These schemes are not handled by Nav. Speak with your employer about this.
Your employment cannot be terminated during the first year of sick leave. If you have been sick for more than one year, the ordinary rules concerning fair dismissal apply. Read more about the rules for dismissal at arbeidstilsynet.no
Updated 03/14/2025
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