Benefits
Supplemental benefit for single parents
Support for childcare and expenses you have for education or job hunting when you are alone with children.
Contents
generally, you may be entitled to supplemental benefit if
You are considered a single parent if all of the following apply to you:
- you have at least 60 per cent of the daily care of children alone. When you and the other parent have a written agreement on shared permanent residence, the entitlement to benefits to a single mother or father depends on whether you have at least 60 per cent of the day-to-day care of the child alone, regardless of where the child lives at any given time.
- you are a biological parent, adoptive parent or have legally taken over custody of children
- you are unmarried, separated, divorced or have applied to the County Governor or court for a separation or divorce
- you live alone with child(ren) or share a home with another adult with whom you are not in a relationship
- you do not live very close to the other parent, i.e. the same building, the same block of flats, next door, or a building around the same courtyard, etc. We can make exceptions if you have not had the opportunity to choose freely where to live.
What is shared permanent residence?
Shared permanent residence means that the child has a permanent place of residence with both parents. This is not the same as the child having a permanent residence with one parent and possibly spending the night with the other in connection with visitation. An agreement on shared permanent residence is a legal agreement pursuant to section 36 of the Children Act. Such an agreement entails that both parents jointly make major decisions on behalf of the child, such as where the child will attend kindergarten and where in the country the child will live.
You are not considered a single parent if:
- you are living (cohabiting) with your partner, regardless of whether this person is the child’s other parent or not
- you or the other parent is receiving or has previously received benefit for single parents and have another child with the same partner
- you are fostering the child you are a single parent of
- you spend so much time with the child’s other parent that you cannot be considered a single parent
You can receive supplemental benefit if you are a single parent and you are taking an education that NAV has assessed as necessary in order for you to be able to get a job and support yourself.
The same applies if you are a single parent and are registered with NAV as a job seeker.
In general, you and your children must live in Norway for you to receive single parent benefits. In some cases, you may still be entitled to single parent benefits if you move or stay abroad.
For single parents who are EEA citizens or family members of an EEA citizen:
- Benefit recipients can still receive the benefit when staying in other EEA countries, provided that other conditions are met.
- You may be entitled to benefits if you are an employee in Norway, but you and your child live in another EEA country (e.g., you live in Sweden and work in Norway).
- You have an independent right to the benefit if you live with the child in another EEA country, while the other parent works or receives social security benefits or a pension from Norway.
Generally, you must have been a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme for the last 5 years to qualify for the benefit. We can make exceptions if you or the other parent have a strong connection to Norway.
Separate rules for membership for EEA citizens
Social security periods from other EEA countries may count as equivalent to periods of membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. In other words, NAV may include social security periods from other EEA countries when we consider if you meet the requirement of 5 years membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. Social security periods in other EEA countries must be documented.
Only EEA citizens or family members of EEA citizens, can add social security periods from other EEA countries to periods of membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. If the social security periods are from another Nordic country, citizenship does not matter.
In this chapter
You can receive support for various expenses you have in connection with taking education or being a job seeker. What you can receive benefit for depends on whether you are taking education or looking for work.
If you are looking for work, you may also be entitled to other supplemental benefits that are not reserved for single parents.
You can get this when you are in education or when you are a job seeker:
You must provide documentation of your child minding expenses with an invoice made out to you.
If you have private child minding arrangements, such as a babysitter or child minder, you must document your expenses by submitting the agreement you have with the child minder when you apply. Here is a template for an agreement on private child minding arrangements (PDF) in Norwegian. This template also indicates what information we need to process your application.
If your child is looked after by a nanny, au pair or similar in your home, you must submit an “a-melding” report showing payment to the Norwegian Tax Administration. This also applies if the child minder looks after the child in their home. Read more about this on the Norwegian Tax Administration’s website. We also need documentation from the municipal Tax Collection Office (“Kemnerkontoret”) that you have paid the child minder.
If you work, you can apply for child care benefit for working single parents.
Child care benefit for single parents
Benefits
Rates for supervision of children
This benefit covers 64 per cent of your child minding expenses, such as kindergarten, child care at school outside school hours (SFO), or a babysitter or child minder. In other words, you have to pay at least 36 per cent of the expenses yourself.
You can have the costs of child minding covered up to a defined maximum rate set by the Storting.
From 1 January 2024, the following rates apply:
Number of children | Maximum amount per day |
1 child | NOK 215 |
2 children | NOK 280 |
3 or more children | NOK 317 |
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This is what you can get when you are in education:
Support for learning materials is intended to cover expenses for textbooks, exercise books, photocopying, internet, computer software, and other educational materials. The amount you receive is also intended to cover work materials in connection with practical training or taking a trade certificate, such as flowers, metal, tools, personal protective equipment, workwear, etc.
You can have your expenses related to learning materials covered if you are taking approved education or training. This applies only if you are not entitled to free learning materials under other regulations.
The allowance you can receive for learning materials depends on your level of education and whether you are studying full time or part time.
If you are a pupil in upper secondary education with a statutory right to upper secondary education and training for young people, you will probably get free learning materials and an equipment grant from the county authority. You will therefore not be entitled to have your learning materials expenses covered through supplemental benefit from NAV.
If you are a pupil in upper secondary education with a statutory right to upper secondary education and training for adults, an apprentice, or training candidate, you do not have the same entitlement to learning materials from the county authority and can have your learning materials expenses covered through supplemental benefit from NAV.
If your expenses for books and learning materials are particularly high compared with other students due to a disability, you can have your actual expenses for learning materials covered.
If you have expenses such as tuition fees, semester fees and examination fees, you can apply for support for school fees.
Support for school fees for single parents
Benefits
From 1 January 2024, the following rates apply for spring and autumn semester 2024:
Level | Full rate per month | Half rate per month |
Upper secondary school | NOK 438 | NOK 219 |
University college, university or vocational college | NOK 875 | NOK 438 |
You can have your travel expenses covered when you travel to, for example, a school, course or apprenticeship on a daily or regular basis.
You can have your travel expenses covered when you travel to, for example, school, courses, or other work-related schemes.
To qualify to have your daily travel expenses covered, the distance you need to travel between your home and the location of the scheme or education must be 6 kilometres or more each way. Travel distance is calculated using the shortest walking distance. If you need transportation due to your health, you can have the expenses covered even if the travel distance is shorter. You must provide a medical certificate.
Rates for daily travel
NAV will cover the cheapest form of travel. NAV can approve use of your own vehicle if there is no public transport available or it is not practically possible for you to use public transport. In this case, your necessary expenses linked to tolls, parking, etc. can also be covered. In exceptional cases, taxi expenses may be covered.
If you are granted an allowance for daily travel using your own vehicle, you must document the expenses by submitting a digital driving log at nav.no.
From 1 January 2024, the following rate applies:
Type of travel | Rate per km |
Travel using own vehicle | NOK 2.79 |
You can have your expenses for travel to gatherings that are part of your education covered.
You can have your travel expenses covered for gatherings that are part of your education. The education must be approved by NAV. We require documentation for your expenses and confirmation from your educational institution that the gathering is mandatory.
The travel distance between your home and the gathering must be at least 30 kilometers each way for you to have your travel expenses covered.
Rates for travel to gatherings
NAV will cover the cheapest form of travel. NAV can approve use of your own vehicle if there is no public transport available or it is not practically possible for you to use public transport. In this case, your necessary expenses linked to tolls, parking, etc. can also be covered. In exceptional cases, taxi expenses may be covered.
If you are granted an allowance for daily travel using your own vehicle, you must document the expenses by submitting a digital driving log at nav.no.
From 1 January 2024, the following rate applies:
Type of travel | Rate per km |
Travel using own vehicle | NOK 2.79 |
You can have your travel expenses covered if you have to move because you are going to take education.
You can have your travel expenses covered if you have to move because you are going to take education. These are travel expenses in connection with the beginning and end of the education and trips home during the programme.
You can have up to four round trips home covered. You can have expenses for more trips home covered if you have children who have not yet completed four years of school.
We can grant support for more trips home if there are special reasons you need to travel home, such as family reasons or for treatment. This must be documented by a doctor.
Rates for travel due to start-up, conclusion or returning home
NAV will cover the cheapest form of travel. NAV can approve use of your own vehicle if there is no public transport available or it is not practically possible for you to use public transport. In this case, your necessary expenses linked to tolls, parking, etc. can also be covered. In exceptional cases, taxi expenses may be covered.
If you are granted an allowance for daily travel using your own vehicle, you must document the expenses by submitting a digital driving log at nav.no.
From 1 January 2024, the following rate applies:
Type of travel | Rate per km |
Travel using own vehicle | NOK 2.79 |
You can have necessary extra expenses for housing and accommodation covered if you have to stay away from home while you are in education.
You can have necessary extra expenses for housing and accommodation covered if you have to stay away from home while you are in education.
These are expenses for housing or overnight accommodation that are in addition to your housing expenses in your home location, or expenses you have because your living expenses at the location of the learning are higher than your previous living expenses in your home location.
If you have higher extra housing expenses than other people in the same situation as you due to a disability, you can have your actual expenses covered.
You must provide documentation of your expenses for housing and accommodation by means of, for example, a rental contract, an overview of the interest on your loan for housing, electricity, or hotel, motel or cabin expenses.
If you are entitled to housing allowance pursuant to the Housing Support Act, you are not entitled to support for the same living expenses through NAV.
Rates for housing and overnight accommodation
From 1 January 2024, the following rate applies:
Type of benefit | Maximum amount per month |
Housing benefit | NOK 4,809 |
As a single parent, you can get support for your relocation expenses if you must move to start a new job. You can receive this benefit for as long as you qualify for transitional benefit. The same applies if you have previously received transitional benefit and it is less than six months since the transitional benefit ceased.
You can get support for your relocation expenses if you have to move to start a new job.
If you are taking or are going to take education, you can have necessary expenses covered if you have to move to complete education or training. This also applies if you need to move to start a new job once you have completed your education.
You must apply to have the expenses covered before you move. You can choose to use a removal company or do it yourself.
Rates for relocation
If you are using a removal company, you must obtain two written estimates. You can have the lowest offer covered.
If you obtain offers from removal companies and then decide to do it yourself, you can have necessary relocation expenses covered up to the amount in the lowest offer.
From 1 January 2024, the following rate applies:
Type of travel | Sats per km |
Travel using own vehicle | NOK 2.79 |
Calculate benefits for childcare
How long can you receive supplemental benefit for?
You can receive supplemental benefit for as long as you qualify for transitional benefit, and you have expenses in connection with education or looking for work.
Are you receiving or do you intend to apply for transitional benefit?
You can receive transitional benefit for up to three years. Periods during which you receive benefit will be deducted from this period if you receive supplemental benefit. This applies if:
- you are entitled to transitional benefit during this period, but have not applied for it
- you are entitled to transitional benefit during this period, but have chosen not to receive it
- you have been granted transitional benefit, but your income is too high for the benefit to be paid
Other options
More information for you who
You can apply for supplemental benefit if you are taking an education that NAV has assessed as necessary in order for you to be able to get a job and support yourself. This also applies if you are registered with NAV as a real job seeker.
If you are entitled to support for several different expenses, you must complete a separate application for each.
You may contact NAV if you want more information and guidance, and/or help filling in the form.
Application for support for supervision of children
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability, or you are a single parent, a surviving spouse, or a previous family caretaker.
Application for support for daily travel
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability, receive unemployment benefits, or you receive benefits while participating in employment schemes. You can also apply for this if you are studying and are a single parent, surviving spouse or previous family caretaker.
Application for support for learning materials
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability. You can also receive this if you are studying and are a single parent, surviving spouse or previous family caretaker.
Application for support when traveling to gatherings
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability, or you are receiving either unemployment benefit or benefits while participating in employment schemes. You can also apply for this if you are studying and are a single parent, a surviving spouse or you are a previous family caretaker.
Application for support for travel due to start-up, conclusion or returning home
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability, or you are receiving either unemployment benefit or benefits while participating in employment schemes. You can also apply for this if you are studying and are a single parent, a surviving spouse or you are a previous family caretaker.
Application for travel expenses to get work elsewhere
You can apply for this if you are a job seeker.
Application for support for housing and overnight accommodation
You can apply for this if you have impaired work capability. You can also apply for this if you are studying and are a single parent, surviving spouse or previous family caretaker.
Application for support for relocation
You can apply for this if you have a limited ability to work, or you are a single parent, a surviving spouse or you are a previous family caretaker.
Reimbursement of costs for daily travel with the use of your own car
Send us the driving log if you have been granted the right to reimbursements for the costs of using your own car. You must state the number of days and document parking expenses.
You will receive a written decision when the application has been processed.
Processing time for applications
The processing time is the time from when we receive your application until we have made a decision. Remember that we need all the necessary documentation to process your application.
Case concerns | Expected case processing time |
---|---|
Application | 6 weeks |
International application | 3 weeks |
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.
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
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 | 22 weeks |
Complaint to the NAV Appeals Management Unit | 4 months |
Appeals to the NAV Appeals Management Unit | 4 months |
In this chapter
Your benefits for single parents may be suspended for one month if you, without reasonable grounds:
- resign from your job
- turn down a job offer
- fail to return to work after your period of parental leave
- refuse to participate in labour market schemes
- fail to attend meetings with NAV
If you have provided incorrect information or failed to provide information, your benefit may be suspended for up to three months the first time you do this and for up to six months if this happens more than once in a three-year period.
There is no fixed date for payment of supplemental benefit. Supplemental benefit is paid out in three different ways:
- If you have applied for and been granted support to cover regular expenses, you will receive the benefit each month. The payment date will be the date on which the decision was approved.
- If you have applied for and been granted support for daily travel using your own vehicle, you will receive the payment approximately two or three working days after you submit your driving log.
- Support for learning materials, travel and relocation are intended to cover one-off expenses. If you have applied for and been granted this benefit, you will be paid the money as soon as we have received all the necessary documentation from you, after you have moved or completed your journey. The money will be in your bank account approximately two or three working days after NAV makes the payment.
In your overview of payments, you can see the payment in the evening on the day the money is paid out.
Holiday pay
There is no holiday pay on this benefit.
Tax
No tax is deducted from the money.
You must notify us of changes if
- you change, drop out of, or reduce the scope of your education or training
- you are no longer a job seeker
- you fall ill, and this prevents you from being in work, education or being a job seeker
- your application for separation or divorce is refused
- you start living with your partner, enter a civil partnership, or get married
- you start a relationship with someone you have previously lived with and have children with
- you are expecting another child
- the child access arrangements change
- the day-to-day care of the child is temporarily or permanently left to others
- you are going to spend time abroad
- you move
- the other parent moves very close to where you live, i.e., the same building, the same block of flats, next door, or a building around the same courtyard, etc.
Holidays and period spent abroad
You must notify us if:
- you are going to spend more than six weeks abroad
- you are going to travel abroad and have already spent six weeks outside Norway during the past 12 months
- you are going to travel abroad, and this stay will result in you having spent more than six weeks abroad during the past 12 months
Relocation
If you are moving or have moved, we must assess whether you are still entitled to this benefit.
You must send us information about:
- whether you still live alone or are sharing your home with another adult. If you live in a marriage-like relationship, we will need your partner’s name and date of birth
- whether your children are registered in the National Registry as living at your address after you have moved
- any changes to your child access agreement
- you have changed or interrupted your course of education or labour market scheme after moving you are still a job seeker, if you were a job seeker before you moved
In general, you and your children must live in Norway for you to receive single parent benefits. In some cases, you may still be entitled to single parent benefits if you move or stay abroad.
You may stay abroad for a period of up to 6 weeks (42 days), during a 12-month period while you receive the benefit. Weekend stays of up to 2 nights do not count.
You may also keep the benefit if you work for a Norwegian employer abroad.
If you meet the other conditions for the benefit, you may have the right to keep the benefit when staying in other EEA countries if:
- You are already receiving a single parent benefit.
- You are an employee in Norway, but you and your child live in another EEA country (e.g., you live in Sweden and work in Norway).
- You and your child live in another EEA country, while the other parent works or receives social security benefits or a pension from Norway.
Updated 05/21/2024
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