Supplementary benefit for persons who have only lived a short period in Norway

You must have reached the age of 67. You must have a residence permit and live in Norway. 

All income and assets from Norway and abroad are included in calculations when NAV determines whether you are eligible for supplementary benefit. This also applies to spouses, co-habiting partners and registered partners. 

The total income of you and your spouse, co-habiting partner or registered partner must be less than the Pension Guarantee. Pension Guarantee is a guaranteed minimum retirement benefit. 

The total assets of you and your spouse, co-habiting partner or registered partner must be less than NOK 59,310 (this corresponds to half of the National Insurance basic amount). 

If you stay out of Norway for more than 90 days during your benefit period, you will no longer be eligible for supplementary benefit. 

You must have applied for, and received a decision regarding your retirement pension before you can apply for supplementary benefit. 

If you relocate to Norway due to family reunification

You will not be eligible for supplementary benefit if 

• you came to Norway due to family reunification with children, grandchildren, a nephew or niece, and 

• you received a residence permit because another person guaranteed they would provide for you. 

The amount is dependent on your living situation. 

The supplementary benefit will be reduced, against the incomes that you, your spouse, co-habiting partner or registered partner receive in total. 

The exception is if your spouse, co-habiting partner or registered partner has reached the age of 67 or is a disabled refugee. If so, only income above an exempt amount will be deducted from your supplementary benefit. If your spouse has turned 67 years old, the free amount is the ordinary rate for guarantee pension (NOK 16,155 a month). If your spouse is a disabled refugee, the free amount corresponds to the ordinary rate for minimum disability benefit (NOK 21,181 per month).

The following are considered income: 

• wages 
• retirement pension from National Insurance 
• pensions and income from other countries 
• other Norwegian public sector or private pensions 
• introductory benefit for newly arrived immigrants, qualification benefit, cash-for-care benefit and spousal support according to the Marriage Act 
• capital income, e.g. interest 

The rates apply before tax is deducted from the income(s). The benefit is taxable. You can contact the Tax Administration to find out how much tax you will pay. 

You can receive benefits for 12 months at a time. You can receive up to 3 months in arrears before you applied. 
 
When the benefit period approaches the end, you must re-apply. You will receive a letter informing you when you should re-apply. 

You must always inform NAV before you travel abroad, and when you return. 

If you are 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. 

You should retain your documentation from your outbound and inbound travel to Norway, for example boarding cards or tickets. You must submit these to NAV when you return to Norway or in connection with a follow-up meeting. 

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. 

The term ‘Institutional stays’ means stays at nursing and care homes, hospitals and rehabilitation institutions. 

If your situation changes, this can lead to adjustments being made to the benefit you receive from NAV. You must notify NAV in the event of any of the following changes in 

• income 
• family situation 
• work situation 
• or if you are planning to spend some time abroad 

You must attend the NAV office in person when you apply. You must also attend in person when you apply for benefit for a new period, or for follow-up meetings. 

Application

You can receive benefits for 12 months at a time. You can receive up to 3 months in arrears before you applied. 
 
When the benefit period approaches the end, you must re-apply. You will receive a letter informing when you should re-apply and about the documentation you must bring with you. 

Follow-up meetings

You must attend a follow-up meeting twice during each benefit period. You will receive a letter from NAV informing you of the date and time, and which documents you must bring with you. If you do not contact NAV or do not attend scheduled appointments, your benefits will cease. 

Arrange an appointment with NAV

You will receive a letter from NAV when you need to attend a follow-up meeting and when you need to apply for a new benefit period. It can be a good idea to book an appointment. You can call NAV contact centre for pensions on 55 55 33 34 to get help arranging an appointment. 

It is important to inform NAV if you cannot attend the meeting. 

NAV can arrange an interpreter

You have the right to have an interpreter present in meetings with NAV if you cannot understand what is being said. NAV will arrange an interpreter. 

In your payment overview, you can see upcoming payments several days before the actual payment date. 

The time of day when the payment will be credited to your account will vary, as it is your bank that transfers the payment into your account. Payments can therefore arrive in your account in the afternoon or evening. 

Holiday pay

There is no holiday pay on this benefit. 

Tax

Tax is deducted from the money.

Tax is deducted at the ordinary rate in June. No tax will be deducted in December, except for withholding tax or Svalbard tax.

More about tax deductions on payments from NAV

Some people prefer to receive letters from NAV by regular post rather than digitally. If you normally receive letters by post, you do not need to do anything. 

 

If you receive digital post, and would prefer to receive letters by regular post, you can opt out of digital post. 

 

You can, for example, receive letters concerning your tax settlement or decisions from NAV by post. 

Further information about opting out of digital post is available at norge.no.