Denmark

I - The resources and income of disabled people.

1. Are there specific legislative procedures for disabled people to enable them to have a minimum of resources ?
2. Do laws exist in your country to enable a minimum of resources for people who become disabled during their working lives ?

II - Disability compensation.

I –THE RESOURCES AND INCOME OF DISABLED PEOPLE.

A) An average of 70% of blind and seriously partially-sighted people of working age are unemployed. Are there specific legislative procedures for disabled people in your country to enable them to have a minimum of resources?

Yes

• If yes: what are these allowances?

Early retirement due to incapacity allowance.

Give specific details of the following aspects:

 

• 1 Criteria of eligibility

1. Age.

   - Minimum:
   18
   - Maximum:
   default retirement age, dependent on your year of birth.

2. Level of disability.
   If your ability to work is reduced in a way that you cannot overcome, then you are eligible to this kind of allowance.
3. Nationality.
   You must have the nationality of a Member State of the EU/EEA or Switzerland, or the status of a stateless person or refugee under the Geneva Convention
4. Conditions of residence in the country.

   You are permanently resident within the EU/EEA or Switzerland, or if you are working abroad for example on a Danish vessel or for public authorities or in the interest of Denmark

 

• 2 Financial conditions.

1. Ceiling.
   - Is the allowance means-tested?

   Yes

   - If YES, does the ceiling take into account the family situation of the person?

   Yes. Your wife or husband's income is taken into account.

   
   

2. Calculation of financial conditions.

   - If the allowance is means-tested, state under what conditions.

   As mentioned above, and if you have a fortune of a certain size.

• 3 Amount of the allowance.

1. Normal rate.

   - What is the amount of the allowance given to people with no other income, state briefly how the allowance varies according to other income or resources.
    

   The amount is approximately €2.200 a month before tax. The average income which a Danish citizen has at his or her disposal is about €2.000. But that is after tax has ben deducted. We will estimate that a blind person has about €1.500 at his or her disposal.

2. Reduction of the allowance.

   - State briefly under what circumstances the allowance may be reduced.

   For example if you have some kind of income besides, or if you are married.

 

• 4 Minimum wage and “poverty line”.

- In order to compare the situation in different EBU member states, please indicate the minimum wage (if this exists in your country) for a full-time worker, and what is considered to be “the poverty line”.

There is no minimum wage determined by the authorities in Denmark. Employers and unions negotiate wages in Denmark, and at the moment the negotiated minimum wage is approximately €15 per hour

Denmark has no official poverty line. Often the OECD poverty line is used. It states that if you earn less than half of the average income then you are regarded as being below the poverty line.

• 5 Payment of the allowance.

 - What are the organisations which calculate and attribute the allowance?

It is our local public authorities.

• 6 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.

1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
   Yes
2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord any fringe benefits?
   No

B) Do laws exist in your country to enable a minimum of resources for people who become disabled during their working lives?

Yes

• If yes : what is the name of the allowance ?

Loss of earning capacity

Specify by giving details of the following aspects:

• 1 Criteria of eligibility

1. Age.
   No limit.
2. Degree of disability.
   Between 15 and 100 percent loss of earning capacity
3. Nationality.
   None.
4. Residency requirements.
   as above
5. Other conditions, please give details.
   n/a

• 2 Means test.

Depends on the degree of loss of earning capacity

• 3 Amount of the allowance.

Depends on the degree of loss of earning capacity

• 4 Attribution, payment of the allowance.

- Who attributes the allowance: State, local government, others, give details.

It is the state that pays the allowance.

• 5 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.

1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
   Yes
2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord fringe benefits?
   No

II – DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

A visual disability (blindness or serious loss of sight) entails additional costs which must be met. Is there a specific allowance in your country to compensate for these costs?

Yes

• If yes, give the name of this allowance and reply to the following questions.

The proper translation would be allowance to cover extra costs.

• 1 Eligibility conditions.

1. Age.

   - Minimum:

   0

   - Maximum:

   default retirement age, dependent on your year of birth

   - Duration of the allowance.

   n/a

2. Degree of disability.
   A long-term impairment
3. Nationality.
   No
4. Conditions of residence in the country.
   You have to live in Denmark. Local authorities have the right to make a dispensation.
5. Other conditions, give details.
   n/a

 

• 2 Financial conditions.

Allowances are means tested

 

• 3 Amount of the allowance.

- What is the amount of the allowance?

You have to have extra costs of more than €800 per year to receive any money.

• 4 Attribution and payment of the allowance.

- Which organisations attribute and pay the allowance:
State, local authorities, please give details.

Local authorities.

• 5 Payment of the allowance.

n/a

• 6 Reduction of the allowance.

- State briefly under what conditions the allowance can be reduced.

The allowance can vary with your extra costs. The authorities have the right to invite you to discuss which costs might come up in the coming year.

 

• 7 Tax system of the allowance and fringe benefits.

1. Tax system.
   Is the allowance subject to tax?
   No
2. Fringe benefits.
   Does the allowance offer fringe benefits?
   No

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