Government Production Team
Parts of the Consolidated Report |
Government department and official responsible for updates |
Contact information |
General questions. Parts I, XII and XIII |
(All) DEP |
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Part II: Medical care |
The Danish Ministry of Health |
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Part III: Sickness benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment |
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Part IV: Unemployment benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment |
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Part V: Old-age benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment |
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Part VI: Employment Injury benefit |
The Danish Working Environment Authority. |
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Part VII: Family Benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment The Danish Ministry of Taxation |
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Part VIII: Maternity benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment |
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Part IX : Invalidity benefit |
The Danish Agency of Labour Market and Recruitment |
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Part X: Survivors benefit |
Not accepted part |
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Part XI: Level of benefits/ Standards to be complied with by periodical payments |
All |
Ø Please enter any modifications or new information using TRACK CHANGES function in MICROSOFT WORD.
Ø Where the text of the corresponding provisions of the ECSS and C102 has the same wording, the wording of C102 is taken as the basis, with eventual changes in the ECSS reproduced in brackets.
Ø Questions of the Report Form on the European Code of Social Security (ECSS) or on ILO Conventions (e.g. RF/C102) for which information is lacking are reproduced in a box below the respective provisions.
Ø Replies to pending questions raised by the CEACR may be provided in a box below the CEACR comments.
Summary table
Category |
Relevant Articles |
Questions raised by the CEACR |
Part II. Medical Care |
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II-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.7 C102/ECSS Art.8 C130 |
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II-2. Contingencies covered |
Art.8 C102/ECSS Art.7 C130 |
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II-3. Persons Protected |
Art.9 C102/ECSS Art.10, 12 C130 |
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II-4. Types of Benefits |
Art.10(1) C102/ECSS Art.13 C130 |
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II-5. Cost-sharing |
Art.10(2) C102/ECSS Art.17 C130 |
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II-6. Objectives of Medical Care |
Art.10(3) C102/ECSS Art.9 C130 |
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II-7. Promotion of the general health service |
Art.10(4) C102/ECSS |
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II-8. Qualifying period |
Art.11 C102/ECSS Art.15 C130 |
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II-9. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.12 C102/ECSS Art.16 C130 |
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II-10. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS Art.28 C130 |
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II-11. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art. 69 ECSS Art.29 C130 |
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II-12. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102, Art.70,71 ECSS Art.30,31 C130 |
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Part III. Sickness Benefit |
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III-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.13 ECSS, Art.18 C130 |
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III-2. Contingencies covered |
Art.14 ECSS, Art.7(b) C130 |
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III-3. Persons Protected |
Art.15 ECSS, Art.19 C130 |
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III-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.16 ECSS |
Art.21 C130 |
III-5. Qualifying period |
Art.17 ECSS, Art.25 C130 |
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III-6. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.18 ECSS, Art.26 C130 |
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III-7. Funeral Benefit |
Art.27 C130 |
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III-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS, Art.28 C130 |
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III-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS, Art.29 C130 |
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III-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS Art.30,31 C130 |
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Part IV. Unemployment Benefit |
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IV-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.19 C102/ECSS |
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IV-2. Contingency covered |
Art.20 C102/ECSS |
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IV-3. Persons Protected |
Art.21 C102/ECSS |
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IV-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.22 C102/ECSS |
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IV-5. Qualifying period |
Art.23 C102/ECSS |
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IV-6. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.24(1,2) C102/ECSS |
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IV-7. Waiting period |
Art.24(3,4) C102/ECSS |
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IV-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS |
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IV-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art.69 ECSS |
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IV-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102 Art.70,71 ECSS |
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Part V. Old-Age Benefit |
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V-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.25 C102/ECSS |
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V-2. Contingency covered |
Art.26 C102/ECSS |
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V-3. Persons Protected |
Art.27 C102/ECSS |
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V-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.28 C102/ECSS |
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V-5. Adjustment of Benefit |
Art.65(10)C102/ECSS or Art.66(8)C102/ECSS |
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V-6. Qualifying period |
Art.29 C102/ECSS |
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V-7. Duration of Benefit |
Art.30 C102/ECSS |
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V-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS, Art.69 C102 |
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V-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS, Art.70 C102 |
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V-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS Art.71,72 C102 |
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Part VI. Employment Injury Benefit |
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VI-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.31 ECSS/C102 Art. 1 C12, Art 1 C42 |
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VI-2. Contingency covered |
Art.32 ECSS/C102 |
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VI-3. List of Occupational Diseases |
Art.2 C42 |
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VI-4. Persons Protected |
Art.33 C102/ECSS |
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VI-5. Medical Care and allied benefits |
Art.34 C102/ECSS |
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VI-6. Prevention, rehabilitation and placement services |
Art.35 C102/ECSS |
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VI – 7. Temporary or initial incapacity for work |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
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VI – 8. Total loss of earning capacity |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
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VI – 9. Partial loss of earning capacity |
Art.36(2) C102/ECSS |
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VI – 10. Death of the breadwinner: periodical payment |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
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VI – 11. Lump-sum payment |
Art.36(3) C102/ECSS |
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VI-12. Adjustment of Benefit |
Art.65(10) C102/ECSS or Art.66(8) C102/ECSS |
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VI-13. Qualifying conditions |
Art.37 C102/ECSS |
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VI-14. Duration of Benefit |
Art.38 C102/ECSS |
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VI-15. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art. 68 ECSS |
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VI-16. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art.69 ECSS |
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VI-17. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102 Art.70,71 ECSS |
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Part VII. Family Benefit |
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VII-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.39 ECSS |
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VII-2. Contingency covered |
Art.40 ECSS |
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VII-3. Persons Protected |
Art.41 ECSS |
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VII-4. Types of Benefits |
Art.42 ECSS |
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VII-5. Qualifying period |
Art.43 ECSS |
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VII-6. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.44 ECSS |
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VII-7. Duration of Benefit |
Art.45 ECSS |
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VII-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS |
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VII-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS |
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VII-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS |
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Part VIII. Maternity Benefit |
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VIII - 1. Regulatory framework |
Art.46 ECSS |
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VIII - 2. Contingency covered |
Art.47 ECSS |
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VIII - 3. Persons protected |
Art.48 ECSS |
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VIII - 4. Maternity Medical Care |
Art.49 ECSS |
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VIII - 5. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.50 ECSS |
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VIII - 6. Qualifying period |
Art.51 ECSS |
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VIII - 7. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.52 ECSS |
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VIII - 8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS |
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VIII - 9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS |
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VIII - 10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS |
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Part IX. Invalidity Benefit |
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IX-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.53 C102/ECSS |
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IX-2. Contingency covered |
Art.54 C102/ECSS |
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IX-3. Persons Protected |
Art.55 C102/ECSS |
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IX-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.56 C102/ECSS |
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IX-5. Adjustment of Benefit |
Art.65(10) C102/ECSS or Art.66(8) C102/ECSS |
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IX-6. Qualifying period |
Art.57 C102/ECSS |
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IX-7. Duration of Benefit |
Art.58 C102/ECSS |
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IX-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS |
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IX-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art.69 ECSS |
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IX-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102 Art.70,71 ECSS |
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Part XI. Standards to be complied with by periodical payments |
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Art.65,66,67 C102/ECSS Art.22 C130 |
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Part XII. Equality of treatment of non-national residents |
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Convention No. 102 |
Art.68 |
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Convention No. 130 |
Art.32 |
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Convention No. 19 |
Art.1-4 |
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Convention No. 118 |
Art.1-3, 5-11 |
Art.4 |
The Part I “General provisions” comprises the following explanatory and procedural clauses:
§ Articles 1-5 C102
§ Articles 1-5 ECSS
§ Articles 1-5 C130
Article 6 of C102/C130/ECSS
For the purpose of compliance with Parts II, III, IV, V, VIII (in so far as it relates to medical care), IX or X of this Convention (Code), a Member (Contracting Party) may take account of protection effected by means of insurance which, although not made compulsory by national laws or regulations for the persons to be protected:
a. is supervised [subsidised - ECSS] by the public authorities [or, where such insurance is complementary only, is supervised by the public authorities - ECSS] or administered, in accordance with prescribed standards, by joint operation of employers and workers;
b. covers a substantial part of the persons whose earnings do not exceed those of the skilled manual male employee [determined in accordance with Article 65 - ECSS]; and
c. complies, in conjunction with other forms of protection, where appropriate, with the relevant provisions of the Convention (Code).
Denmark has accepted the obligations resulting from Part II of C102, Part II of C130 and Part II of the ECSS, as amended by its Protocol[TAL1].
Category |
Information available |
Information missing / questions raised by the CEACR |
II-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.7 C102/ECSS Art.8 C130 |
|
II-2. Contingencies covered |
Art.8 C102/ECSS Art.7 C130 |
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II-3. Persons Protected |
Art.9 C102/ECSS Art.10,12 C130* |
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II-4. Types of Benefits |
Art.10(1) C102/ECSS Art.13 C130 |
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II-5. Cost-sharing |
Art.10(2)C102/ECSS Art.17 C130 |
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II-6. Objectives of Medical Care |
Art.10(3) C102/ECSS Art.9 C130 |
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II-7. Promotion of the general health service |
Art.10(4) C102/ECSS |
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II-8. Qualifying period |
Art.11 C102/ECSS Art.15 C130 |
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II-9. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.12 C102/ECSS Art.16 C130 |
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II-10. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS Art.28 C128 |
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II-11. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art. 69 ECSS Art.29 C130 |
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II-12. Financing and Administration |
Art.71*,72 C102 Art.70*,71 ECSS Art.30,31 C130 |
Consolidated Act No 48 of 13 January 2016 on benefits during sickness etc. as amended by:
Administrative Orders:
Order No 1898 of 29 December 2015
Order No 1430 of 4 December 2015
Order No 1348 of 30 November 2015
Order No 1297 of 25 November 2015
Order No 1270 of 19 November 2015
Order No 1002 of 30 August 2015
Order No 1562 of 23 December 2014
Order No 1561 of 23 December 2014
Order No 1421 of 16 December 2014
Order No 1416 of 16 December 2014
Order No 1014 of 15. August 2013
Order No 1268 of 17 December 2012
Order No 172 of 27 February 2012
Order No 1415 of 11 December 2007
Act No 272 of 26 March 2019 to amend the Danish Healthcare Act
Certain non-residents in Denmark are charged payment for emergency hospital treatments that they may receive under a temporary stay in Denmark. These persons are also charged payment for non-emergency hospital treatment in cases where it is not reasonable to refer the person to treatment in their home country. The act has not changed the fact that the treatment may still be provided free of charge when the regional authorities consider it reasonable. However, in case of emergency, no acutely ill or injured person may be denied hospital treatment in the public healthcare system with reference to payment claims. The act came into force on 1 July 2019.
Article 7. C102 and ECSS
Each Member (Contracting Party) for which this Part of this Convention (Code) is in force shall secure to the persons protected the provision of benefit in respect of a condition requiring medical care of a preventive or curative nature in accordance with the following Articles of this Part.
Article 8. C130
Each Member shall secure to the persons protected, subject to prescribed conditions, the provision of medical care of a curative or preventive nature in respect of the contingency referred to in subparagraph (a) of Article 7.
Report 2021-ECSS:
The Danish health care system is predominantly a single-payer system, financed by general taxation. Any individual, who is a resident of Denmark, that is registered in the CPR is thus automatically covered by services and goods provided by the public health insurance. However, for certain health care services patients are subject to co-payments.
There are two categories of health service coverage and each covered individual is free to choose whether he or she wishes to be covered by Group 1 or Group 2. Roughly 99 percent of the residents have chosen to be covered by Group 1. With regard to many of the services, the person’s rights depend on which group he or she has chosen.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Publicly financed healthcare covers all primary, specialist, hospital, and preventive care, as well as mental health and long-term care services. Home care and hospice care are organized and financed by the regions [See under Part II-12. Financing and Administration].
Report 2021-C130:
Vaccinations: All young people below the age of 18 who are Danish nationals, or who are residents in Denmark can be vaccinated against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, German measles, mumps, and Haemophilus influenza type b. Furthermore, all children below the age of 2, persons aged 65 years and above, and persons with some chronic diseases who are Danish Nationals or who are resident in Denmark can be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease (PCV 7), and young people over the age of 12 who are Danish nationals or are resident in Denmark, can be vaccinated free of charge against cervical cancer (HPV vaccination). As of 1 February 2020, a temporary HPV catch-up vaccination program has entered into force. The offer applies to boys born in 2006 and the first half of 2007 and young men aged 18-25 years who are attracted to men. This offer ends 31 December 2021.
All females over the age of 18 who are Danish nationals or are residents in Denmark, may be vaccinated free of charge against German measles. Every child under the age of two years, whose mother suffers from chronic hepatitis B and is a Danish national or resident in Denmark, may be vaccinated against hepatitis B free of charge. All intravenous drug abusers can be vaccinated against hepatitis B free of charge. Often a combined hepatitis A/B vaccine is used for the vaccination so that protection against hepatitis A is provided at the same time. Furthermore, persons who live together with a person with chronic hepatitis B, as well as steady sexual partners of a person with chronic hepatitis B can be vaccinated free of charge against hepatitis B. Only hepatitis B vaccine is given in these cases.
Persons aged 65 years and above and persons with some chronic diseases and persons, who have been granted early retirement, can be vaccinated against influenza, free of charge. The costs are covered by the regions.
All persons registered as residing in Denmark are offered free vaccination against COVID-19 in keeping with the Danish Health Authority’s prioritized target groups. The right extends to persons with the right to vaccination benefits during a stay in Denmark pursuant to EU law or international agreements. As of 1 March 2021, also persons with a temporary residence of a minimum of 1 month in Denmark have been included in the Danish COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. Access to vaccination is granted from the 14th day of residence.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2011 – 30 June 2012
On 1 January 2012, a new act regarding health research ethics came into force. Under the Committee Act, it is the responsibility of the committee system on health research ethics to ensure that health research projects - from a research ethical point of view - are carried out in a responsible manner and that the rights, safety, and wellbeing of trial subjects participating in such biomedical research projects are protected, while at the same time possibilities are being created for the development of new, valuable knowledge.
Article 8. C102 and ECSS
The contingencies covered shall include any morbid condition, pregnancy, and confinement and their consequences.
Article 1 (j). C130
The term “sickness” means any morbid condition, whatever its cause.
Article 7. C130
The contingencies covered shall include:
(a) need for medical care of a curative nature and, under prescribed conditions, need for medical care of a preventive nature.
Not relevant. The Danish healthcare system is predominantly financed by general taxation. All Danish residents have equal and universal access to needed services within the capacity and capability of the public health care system.
Article 9. C102 and ECSS
The persons protected shall comprise:
(a) prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all employees, and also their wives and children; or
(b) prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 20 per cent of all residents, and also their wives and children; or
(c) prescribed classes of residents, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all residents.
Article 9 shall read:
The persons protected shall comprise:
(a) prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 80 per cent of all employees, and also their wives and children; or
(b) prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 30 per cent of all residents, and also their wives and children; or
(c) prescribed classes of residents, constituting not less than 65 per cent of all residents.
Article 10. C130
The persons protected in respect of the contingency referred to in subparagraph (a) of Article 7 shall comprise:
(a) all employees, including apprentices, and the wives and children of such employees; or
(b) prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 75 per cent of the whole economically active population, and the wives and children of persons in the said classes; or
(c) prescribed classes of residents constituting not less than 75 per cent of all residents.
Article 12. C130
Persons who are in receipt of a social security benefit for invalidity, old age, death of the breadwinner or unemployment, and, where appropriate, the wives and children of such persons, shall continue to be protected, under prescribed conditions, in respect of the contingency referred to in subparagraph (a) of Article 7.
Report 2021-ECSS:
All registered Danish residents are automatically entitled to publicly financed healthcare, which is largely free of charge at the point of use. You are considered a resident, when you are registered in the Civil Registration System (CPR).
Report 2021-ECSS: [please, indicate source of data]
A. Number of residents protected: 5.8 million
B. Total number of residents: 5.8 million
C. Number of residents protected (A) per cent of the total number of residents (B): 100%
Report 2021-C102:[please, indicate source of data]
Article 76:
Statistical information according to article 9 (c):
A. Number of residents protected, January 2021: 5840045
B. Total number of residents, January 2021: 5840045
C. 100 per cent
§1. Article 10. C102 and ECSS
The benefit shall include at least:
(a) in case of a morbid condition,
(i) general practitioner care, including domiciliary visiting;
(ii) specialist care at hospitals for in patients and out patients, and such specialist care as may be available outside hospitals;
(iii) the essential pharmaceutical supplies as prescribed by medical or other qualified practitioners; and
(iv) hospitalisation where necessary; and
(b) in case of pregnancy and confinement and their consequences,
(i) pre-natal, confinement, and post-natal care either by medical practitioners or by qualified midwives; and
(ii) hospitalisation where necessary.
Protocol to the ECSS
Article 10, paragraphs 1, shall read:
1. The benefit shall include at least:
(a) in the case of a morbid condition;
(i) care by general practitioners, including domiciliary visiting, and care by specialists in accordance with prescribed conditions;
(ii) hospital care including maintenance, care by general practitioners or specialists as required, nursing and all auxiliary services required;
(iii) all necessary non-proprietary pharmaceutical supplies and proprietary preparations regarded as essential; and
(iv) conservative dental care for the children protected; and
(b) in the case of pregnancy, confinement and their consequences:
(i) pre-natal, confinement, and post-natal care either by medical practitioners or by qualified midwives;
(ii) hospitalisation where necessary; and
(iii) pharmaceutical supplies.
Article 13. C130
The medical care referred to in Article 8 shall comprise at least:
(a) general practitioner care, including domiciliary visiting;
(b) specialist care at hospitals for in-patients and out-patients, and such specialist care as may be available outside hospitals;
(c) the necessary pharmaceutical supplies on prescription by medical or other qualified practitioners;
(d) hospitalisation where necessary;
(e) dental care, as prescribed; and
(f) medical rehabilitation, including the supply, maintenance, and renewal of prosthetic and orthopaedic appliances, as prescribed.
The benefit in case of a morbid condition
1) General practitioners care
Report 2021-C102/ECSS:
The general practitioners (GP) occupy a central position in the healthcare system. The GP’s are the patients’ primary contact with the health service and will ensure that the patient is given the right treatment and is referred to the right professionals in the health service. The GP is thus a coordinator with professional responsibility for referring patients to hospitals, specialists, and other professionals.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents covered by health insurance Group 1 (see Article 8. C130) have to register with a specific general practitioner and residents covered by Group 2 have the right, but not the duty, to register with a specific GP by choice (see Article 8. C130)
2) Specialist Medical Care
Report 2021-C102/ECSS:
Outpatient specialist care is delivered through hospital-based ambulatory clinics (fully integrated and funded, as are other public hospital services) or by self-employed specialists in privately owned facilities.
3) Nursing
Report 2021-C102/ECSS:
When prescribed by a GP, municipalities are to provide home nursing free of charge. Moreover, the municipalities are obliged to provide all necessary appliances free of charge. Home nursing provides treatment and nursing at home to residents, who are temporarily or chronically ill or dying.
4) Hospitalization
Report 2021-C102/ECSS:
Residents are automatically entitled to publicly financed hospitalization when necessary. Most hospital beds are publicly owned and patients can choose among public hospitals upon referral.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the reference period 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017
Act. 653 of 08/06/2016
As of 1 October, 2016, patients have the right to a so-called ‘extended free choice of hospital’, if the region cannot ensure that treatment is initiated within 30 days. This means that patients may choose to go to a private hospital in Denmark or to a public or private hospital abroad at the expense of the region. The regions are also required to ensure that any patient referred to a hospital is assessed and given a time for appointment and diagnosis within 30 days from the date of referral. If the region is not able to provide the said appointment within 30 days because of lack of capacity, the extended free choice of a hospital also applies, i.e. the patient may go to a private hospital or a hospital abroad to be diagnosed. The right to treatment, diagnosis and extended free choice of hospital applies to both mental and physical illness.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015
Act. 1536 of 27/12/2014
As of 1 January, 2015, persons who apply for medical and/or social drug abuse treatment at the municipality have a right to a medical examination prior to the commencement of the treatment, and persons who apply for medical drug abuse treatment, have a right to treatment within 14 days after application. In addition, persons who are referred to medical drug abuse treatment have a right to choose another treatment centre than the one that the municipality has referred them to.
5) Pharmaceuticals
Report 2021-C102:
Pharmaceuticals used in the public hospital sector are provided and paid for by the regions, which are responsible for the hospitals and pharmacies at hospitals. The hospital sector decides and makes guidelines for the pharmaceutical products used and makes tenders to control pharmaceutical expenditures.
Outpatient pharmaceutical products in the primary sector are handled by private pharmacies, which are administered through a licensing system. Private pharmacies have a monopoly on the sale to consumers of prescription-only medicines and some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. A number of OTC-medicines can be sold by pharmacies as well as other shops. The pharmacy mark-up is regulated by law. Pharmacies receive a dispensary fee whenever they sell a prescribed product, i.e., prescription-only medicines and OTC-medicines sold on prescription. The value-added tax (VAT) rate for medicines is the same as the standard rate (25%).
The pharmacies are obliged to offer patients the cheapest medicine with the same active ingredient. Patients may choose more expensive medicines, but they have to pay the difference.
6) Dental care
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for dental care. These subsidies comprise prevention as well as certain treatments. Special subsidies are provided to groups of patients with extraordinary needs for dental care as a result of certain diseases or disabilities.
The municipalities are bound to provide dental care for residents who, as a consequence of reduced mobility or considerable physical or mental disabilities, are having difficulties using the regular dental care services.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021
From 1 July 2020 the municipalities are bound to provide free of charge acute and pain-relieving dental care as well dental care necessary for everyday life to vulnerable groups.
7) Nutrition
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for special nutritive preparations prescribed by a physician in connection with illness.
8) Physiotherapeutic treatment
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents are, on the recommendation of a physician, entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for physiotherapeutic treatment. Physiotherapy as part of hospital treatment is free of charge. Furthermore, physiotherapy is offered free of charge for seriously disabled persons.
9) Psychological treatment
Report 2021-ECSS:
On prescription of a physician, certain groups of risk are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for treatment by a psychologist.
10) Chiropodic treatment
Report 2021-ECSS:
On prescription of a physician, diabetics and certain other groups of patients are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for treatment by a chiropodist.
11) Chiropractic treatment
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses for certain treatments by a chiropractor.
12) Glasses
Report 2021-ECSS:
On the first acquisition of glasses and when a change of lenses or frame is necessary, residents are entitled to public subsidies covering expenses of lenses and frames for children under the age of 16.
13) Transportation
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents covered by Group 1, especially those in receipt of old age or anticipatory pension, or if the distance to the location of treatment exceeds 50 km (only in the case of specialist treatment) or in the case of acute emergency treatment (but not residents covered by Group 2), may normally in the event of illness get reimbursed for expenses of necessary transportation between their homes and the physician.
14) Funeral benefit
Report 2021-ECSS:
Municipalities are bound to provide funeral benefits depending on the financial circumstances of the deceased and his or her surviving relatives.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Act, No 238 of 31 January 2017 to amend the Danish Act on the Right to Complain and Receive Compensation within the Health Service, cf. Consolidation Act No. 84 of 17 January 2017.
Parents, who lose a child due to an injury in connection with treatment by the Danish Health Service, or due to adverse reactions caused by medicinal products, may receive a special financial compensation of DKK 162,000. Furthermore, the regions have to offer and pay for psychological consultations. The amendment applies to claims made from 17 March 2017 onwards.
The benefit in case of pregnancy and confinement and their consequences
Report 2021-ECSS:
Pregnancy and confinement
A pregnant woman may obtain prenatal care from her family doctor and a midwife at a public hospital. Patients are offered several examinations before and immediately after delivery. During pregnancy further prenatal diagnostic screening is offered to women, where it is deemed relevant.
The municipal health authorities are notified of all births and offer the mother and child healthcare from a visiting public health nurse. Each child is visited several times during its first year depending on the need of the individual child and/or family.
Hospitalisation
A woman may choose to give birth in a hospital or at home. 98 per cent of all deliveries take place at a hospital. The hospital clinics/maternity wards give care and treatment to pregnant women, women in labour, mothers who have given birth, and new-borns. Only approximately 2 pct. chooses to give birth at home. It is stated by law, that women have a right to home confinement. The regions, which are responsible for all public hospital services, must provide midwife assistance in cases of home confinement. Moreover, the regions are responsible for providing antenatal services.
Report 2021-C102:
Pregnant residents are offered health-promoting and prophylactic consultations in relation to the pregnancy. These consultations include medical check-ups performed by her family doctor and a follow-up after childbirth. During these consultations, the midwife observes the mother and child to support and ensure healthy living.
In Denmark, antenatal care includes midwife consultation, preparation classes, prenatal diagnostics such as scans and blood samples for assessment of risk for Down’ Syndrome and other specific congenital abnormalities.
The labour is supervised by a midwife, in case of complications a doctor or obstetrician will oversee the birth. If needed, the women have various options regarding pain relief medicines when giving birth at a clinic. Depending on the clinic, the woman can choose between Epidural anaesthesia, nitrous oxide, sterile water papule injections, pudendal block acupuncture, zone therapy, hydrotherapy – bath and shower.
§2. Article 10. C102 and ECSS
The beneficiary or his breadwinner may be required to share in the cost of the medical care the beneficiary receives in respect of a morbid condition; the rules concerning such cost-sharing shall be so designed as to avoid hardship.
Article 10, paragraphs 2, shall read:
The beneficiary or his breadwinner may be required to share in the costs of the medical care which the beneficiary receives:
(a) in case of morbid condition, provided that the rules concerning such cost-sharing shall be so designed as to avoid hardship, and that the part of the cost paid by the beneficiary or breadwinner shall not exceed:
(i) for care by general practitioners and specialists outside hospital wards: 25 per cent;
(ii) for hospital care: 25 per cent;
(iii) for pharmaceutical supplies: 25 per cent on the average;
(iv) for conservative dental care: 33 1/3 per cent;
(b) in case of pregnancy, confinement and their consequences, in respect of pharmaceutical supplies only for which the part of the cost paid by the patient or breadwinner shall not exceed 25 per cent on the average; the rules concerning such cost-sharing shall be so designed as to avoid hardship;
(c) where cost-sharing takes the form of a fixed sum in respect of each case or course of treatment or each prescription of pharmaceutical supplies, the total of such payments made by all persons protected in respect of any one of the types of care referred to in sub-paragraphs a or b shall not exceed the specified percentage of the total cost of that type of care within a given period.
Article 17. C130
Where the legislation of a Member requires the beneficiary or his breadwinner to share in the cost of the medical care referred to in Article 8, the rules concerning such cost-sharing shall be so designed as to avoid hardship and not to prejudice the effectiveness of medical and social protection.
Report 2021-ECSS:
There is no cost-sharing for hospital and primary care services. Cost-sharing is applied to dental care for those aged 18 and older (coinsurance of 35% to 60% of total cost), outpatient prescriptions, and corrective lenses. Cost-sharing is not required in the case of pregnancy and confinement and their consequences.
Report 2021-C102:
Out-of-pocket payments represented 17 per cent of total health expenditures in 2015, covering mostly outpatient drugs, corrective lenses, hearing aids, psychologists, and dental care.
Report 2016-ECSS:
Out-of-pocket payments represented 12.4 per cent of total health expenditures in 2013 (OECD 2014), covering mostly outpatient drugs, corrective lenses, hearing aids, and doctor and dental care. Patients with outpatient medicine expenses of more than DKK 3,880 (521 EUR) per year receive 100 pct. reimbursement when purchasing reimbursable pharmaceuticals after their expenses have reached the threshold of DKK 3,880. Private specialists, hospitals, and dentists are free to set their fees for patients not covered by public funding.
1) General practitioners care, including home visits
Report 2021-ECSS:
General practitioners care services are provided free of charge. Moreover, when prescribed by a GP, municipalities are to provide home nursing free of charge.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents covered by Group 1 are entitled to free medical assistance from their GP, whose fees are determined by a fixed price system. Residents covered by Group 2 receive public subsidies corresponding to the expenses of similar medical assistance from a GP for persons covered by Group 1. Since the fees are determined by a free price system, residents covered by Group 2 are subject to co-payments for any expenses exceeding the fees for similar assistance to residents covered by Group 1.
2) Specialist care at hospitals for in-patients and out-patients and such specialist care as may be available outside hospitals
Report 2021-ECSS:
All specialist care at hospitals for in-patients and out-patients is provided free of charge. Specialist care available outside hospitals is free of charge upon referral from a GP for residents covered by Group 1. Note, that 98.5 per cent of the Danish population have chosen to be covered by Group 1. Patients covered by Group 2 may visit any specialist without a referral, but are subject to co-payments for any expenses exceeding the fees for similar assistance to residents covered by Group 1.
3) Pharmaceuticals
Report 2021-ECSS:
Denmark has extensive reimbursement schemes for pharmaceuticals. The predominant scheme is a needs-based reimbursement scheme allocating public reimbursement to those patients that have the largest (and well-documented) consumption of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines and who consequently have the largest expenses.
Report 2021-C102:
The reimbursement system in Denmark is based on individual needs, and the reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals depend on a given patient's prior consumption of medicine within an individual reimbursement period of one year. E.g. the reimbursed amount depends on the total expenses - calculated on the basis of reimbursement prices of pharmaceuticals which the given patient has purchased within a period of one year. The reimbursement rates – i.e. the limits to how much patients must pay themselves for medicine and how much the Danish regions subsidise – are adjusted annually.
- If a patient's expenditure exceeds DKK 1.010, but is below DKK 1,685 within a year, 50 per cent of the expenditure between DKK 1.010 and 1,685 is to be reimbursed.
- If a patient's expenditure is between DKK 1,685 and 3,660, 75 per cent of the expenditure between DKK 1,685 and 3,660 is to be reimbursed.
- If expenditure for reimbursable pharmaceuticals is between DKK 3,660 and 19.851, 85 per cent of the expenditure between DKK 3,660 and 19.851 is to be reimbursed.
- And if expenditure for reimbursable pharmaceuticals exceeds DKK 19.851, the amount exceeding DKK 19.851 is to be reimbursed at the rate of 100 percent.
The size of reimbursement is calculated on the basis of the cheapest generic medicine. If patients choose to buy a more expensive medicine, they will have to pay the difference between the price of the medicine and the reimbursement price themselves.
Report 2017-C102, Report 2021-ECSS:
The cost limits and the price ceiling are changed on 1 January each year.
Reimbursement of medicines for the chronically ill
In Denmark, reimbursement of medicines is divided into two groups - reimbursement provided automatically, which includes the chronically ill, and reimbursement provided after individual application by a doctor. The reimbursement scheme looks as follows:
Reimbursement SCHEME 2021*
Annual personal expenditure on reimbursable medicine before deduction of reimbursement |
Reimbursement for persons |
Reimbursement for persons |
DKK 0-995 |
0 pct. |
60 pct. |
DKK 995-1.655 |
50 pct. |
60 pct. |
DKK 1.655-3.590 |
75 pct. |
75 pct. |
DKK 3.090 |
85 pct. |
85 pct. |
Adults: In excess of DKK 19.465 (patient's co-payment= DKK 4.190) |
100 pct. |
|
Persons under the age of 18: In excess of DKK 23.885 (patient's co-payment= DKK 4,1900) |
100 pct. |
*The threshold of the reimbursement scheme is adjusted to the rate of inflation every year.
From 2021, the chronically ill will not have a co-payment that exceeds DKK 4,270 though the threshold is adjusted to the rate of inflation.
Report 2021-ECSS:
On application from the treating physician, the Danish Medicines Agency is to grant reimbursement of 100 percent of all pharmaceuticals prescribed by a physician for patients, who are terminally ill and who, according to a physician's prognosis, shall not live much longer and shall not benefit from hospital treatment.
Report 20217-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2011 – 30 June 2012:
On 1 January 2012, the government abolished the regulation (in the health care act) on patients’ co-payment for treatment with assisted reproduction and full (user) payment for sterilization and fertilisation in the public health care system, which came into effect on 1 January 2011.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019:
Reimbursement of cannabis products in the Danish Medicinal Cannabis Pilot Programme 2018-2021:
Patients in Denmark who are prescribed medical cannabis as part of the Danish Medicinal Pilot Programme receive reimbursement during the period 2018-2021.
The reimbursement amount is deducted automatically when purchased at the pharmacy. Terminally ill patients are reimbursed at 100 per cent when buying cannabis products under the pilot programme, whereas other patients are reimbursed at 50 per cent up to an annual reimbursement amount of DKK 10,000.
The reimbursement scheme is stated in act. No. 1519 of 18 December 2018.
4) Hospital treatment
Report 2021-ECSS:
All hospital treatment in public hospitals, including medicines, is provided free of charge to the patient. All hospital expenditures including medicine treatment are funded by the five Danish regions (tax-financed).
Payment follows the patient to the receiving hospital if it is located in another region.
5) Rehabilitation
Report 2021-C102:
Rehabilitation is offered free of charge to persons who are discharged from hospital when there is a need for rehabilitation from a medical point of view. Upon discharge, the hospital will make a rehabilitation plan describing the functional level and rehabilitation needs of the patient. The rehabilitation plan is sent electronically to the municipality, who is in charge of the rehabilitation, as well as to the GP of the patient.
The municipality will organize health-related rehabilitation efforts in conjunction with other efforts that will contribute to the citizen's overall rehabilitation under the health law as well as other legislation.
6) Dental care
Report 2021-ECSS:
Cost-sharing is applied to dental care for those aged 18 and older (coinsurance of 35 per cent to 60 per cent of total cost).
Child dental care: Municipalities are bound to provide all dental care to residents below the age of 18, free of charge.
Report 2011-C130:
Residents below the age of 18 may freely choose dental treatment by a public dentist in any municipality or by any private dentist.
7) Right to interpretation
Report 2021-C102:
Everyone who has been granted a residence permit and lives in Denmark has free access to the healthcare system. Additionally, most examinations and treatments are free of charge.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019:
However, in 2018 a scheme for interpreter service charges was introduced with the newly drafted section 50 in the Health Act.
According to the new section 50 and the associated “Bekendtgørelse nr 855 af 23/06/2018 om tolkebistand efter sundhedsloven”, all non-Danish-speaking persons have access to free interpreting assistance for the first 3 years they live in Denmark.
If a person has lived in Denmark for more than 3 years, during which the persons has been offered lessons in Danish, the person is expected to master the Danish language at a sufficient level.
After 3 years of residence in Denmark, persons who still need interpreting assistance will therefore have to pay a fee for this. However, people who - as a result of reduced mental or physical functioning are not able to learn Danish - even after 3 years of residence in Denmark will still receive free interpreting assistance.
Likewise, children under the age of 18, and accompanying parents are exempted from the scheme.
§3. Article 10. C102 and ECSS
The benefit provided in accordance with this Article shall be afforded with a view to maintaining, restoring, or improving the health of the person protected and his ability to work and to attend to his personal needs.
Article 9. C130
The medical care referred to in Article 8 shall be afforded with a view to maintaining, restoring, or improving the health of the person protected and his ability to work and to attend to his personal needs.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Universal access to health care is the underlying principle inscribed in Denmark’s Health Law which sets out the government’s obligation to promote public health and to prevent and treat illness, suffering, and functional limitations. Other core principles include high quality; easy and equal access to care; seamless care; choice; transparency; access to information; and short waiting times for care. The law also assigns responsibility to regions and municipalities for delivering health services.
The municipalities have the main responsibility for health promotion and preventive services for citizens. The municipalities' prevention and health promotion tasks include both citizen-oriented efforts to prevent illness and accidents, and patient-oriented efforts to prevent and further limit the development of a disease or postpone complications. In connection with civic prevention and health promotion, it is important to be aware that it includes everyone - including, for example, people with disabilities or mental illness and other groups with special needs.
Report 2021-C130:
The purpose of the Act on legal security and administration in the social field is to:
1. Safeguard the rights and influence of citizens in connection with the social authorities' administration. Emphasise that the duty of the social authorities is to plan early health-oriented assistance.
2. Prevent that persons who have, or risk having, difficulties in maintaining a job are offered assistance for their support.
3. Lay down structural and basic principles for the administration of social cases.
4. Thus the Act contains rules on how the local authority, the county, and the State are to deal with cases in pursuance of the relevant legislation.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the reference period 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021
Act, No 113 of 31 January 2017 to amend the Sickness Benefits Act, Authorization Act, and Danish Act on the Right to Complain and receive compensation within the Healthcare System
The Act introduces a new approach to quality work in healthcare services. The new approach to quality emphasizes quality development rather than quality control and focuses on clear goals and results that create value for the patients. The amendment applies as of 1 April 2017.
§4. Article 10. C102 and ECSS
The institutions or Government departments administering the benefit shall, by such means as may be deemed appropriate, encourage the persons protected to avail themselves of the general health services placed at their disposal by the public authorities or by other bodies recognised by the public authorities.
Report 2021-C102:
The first time a resident visits the family doctor in connection with her pregnancy, she is informed of the maternal medical benefits of the general health service. Close to all women avail themselves of the general health services in the field of maternity having had this information. In cases of, e.g., socially exposed pregnant women or pregnant women with a substance abuse problem or the like who fail to appear at the health promotion and prophylactic consultations, an out-reaching effort is effected.
§1(f) Article 1 C102, §1(i) Article 1 ECSS, C130
The term qualifying period means a period of contribution, or a period of employment, or a period of residence, or any combination thereof, as may be prescribed.
Article 11. C102 and ECSS
The benefit specified in Article 10 shall, in a contingency covered, be secured at least to a person protected who has completed, or whose breadwinner has completed, such qualifying period as may be considered necessary to preclude abuse.
Article 15. C130
Where the legislation of a Member makes the right to the medical care referred to in Article 8 conditional upon the fulfilment of a qualifying period by the person protected or by his breadwinner, the conditions governing the qualifying period shall be such as not to deprive of the right to benefit persons who normally belong to the categories of persons protected.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Residents are entitled to publicly financed health care, which is largely free of charge at the point of use. You are considered a resident, when registered in the Civil Registration System (CPR).
Article 12. C102 and ECSS
The benefit specified in Article 10 shall be granted throughout the contingency covered, except that, in case of a morbid condition, its duration may be limited to 26 weeks in each case, but benefit shall not be suspended while a sickness benefit continues to be paid, and provision shall be made to enable the limit to be extended for prescribed diseases recognised as entailing prolonged care.
Article 12 shall read:
The benefits specified in Article 10 shall be granted throughout the contingency covered, except that hospital care may be limited to 52 weeks in each case or 78 weeks in any consecutive period of three years.
Article 16. C130
1. The medical care referred to in Article 8 shall be provided throughout the contingency.
2. Where a beneficiary ceases to belong to the categories of persons protected, further entitlement to medical care for a case of sickness which started while he belonged to the said categories may be limited to a prescribed period which shall not be less than 26 weeks: Provided that the medical care shall not cease while the beneficiary continues to receive a sickness benefit.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, the duration of medical care shall be extended for prescribed diseases recognised as entailing prolonged care.
Not relevant, there is no minimum duration of benefit as long as the person is applicable for residency.
Report 2019 C102 and ECSS
All residents in Denmark in need of hospital care may, within certain limits, freely choose any public and some private hospitals. In general, the duration of different types of medical care is based on a medical assessment.
If the region cannot ensure that treatment will be initiated within 30 days, patients have the right to a so-called ‘extended free choice of hospital’. This means that patients may choose to go to a private hospital in Denmark or to a public or private hospital abroad.
The regions are also required to ensure that any patient referred to a hospital is assessed with a view to diagnosis within one month from the date of referral. If for medical reasons, it is not possible to determine the condition of the patient within one month, the patient must receive a detailed plan to ensure further investigation of his/her health problem, including, for example, further examinations at another hospital. If for reasons of capacity, the region is not able to provide an assessment with a view to diagnosis within 30 days, the extended free choice of hospital applies, i.e. the patient may go to a private hospital or a hospital abroad to be diagnosed.
The right to treatment, diagnosis, and free choice of hospital applies to both mental and physical illness.
Article 69. C102, Article 68. ECSS
A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with any of Parts II to X of this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed--
(a) as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
(b) as long as the person concerned is maintained at public expense, or at the expense of a social security institution or service, subject to any portion of the benefit in excess of the value of such maintenance being granted to the dependants of the beneficiary;
(c) as long as the person concerned is in receipt of another social security cash benefit, other than a family benefit, and during any period in respect of which he is indemnified for the contingency by a third party, subject to the part of the benefit which is suspended not exceeding the other benefit or the indemnity by a third party;
(d) where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
(e) where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
(f) where the contingency has been caused by the wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
(g) in appropriate cases, where the person concerned neglects to make use of the medical or rehabilitation services placed at his disposal or fails to comply with rules prescribed for verifying the occurrence or continuance of the contingency or for the conduct of beneficiaries;
Article 28. C130
1. A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed:
(a) as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
(b) as long as the person concerned is being indemnified for the contingency by a third party, to the extent of the indemnity;
(c) where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
(d) where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
(e) where the contingency has been caused by the serious and wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
(f) where the person concerned, without good cause, neglects to make use of the medical care or the rehabilitation services placed at his disposal, or fails to comply with rules prescribed for verifying the occurrence or continuance of the contingency or for the conduct of beneficiaries;
Not relevant, there is no suspension of benefit as long as the person is applicable for residency
Report 2019 C102 and ECSS:
All residents in Denmark have access to the public healthcare system, and most services are provided free of charge. The municipalities, regions, and private providers may only suspend or refuse health services provided under the Health Act in accordance with a medical assessment.
Article 70. C102, Article 69. ECSS
1. Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
2. Where in the application of this Convention (Code) a government department responsible to a legislature is entrusted with the administration of medical care, the right of appeal provided for in paragraph 1 of this article may be replaced by a right to have a complaint concerning the refusal of medical care or the quality of the care received investigated by the appropriate authority.
3. Where a claim is settled by a special tribunal established to deal with social security questions and on which the persons protected are represented, no right of appeal shall be required.
Article 29. C130
1. Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in the case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
2. Where in the application of this Convention a government department responsible to a legislature is entrusted with the administration of medical care, the right of appeal provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article may be replaced by a right to have a complaint concerning the refusal of medical care or the quality of the care received investigated by the appropriate authority.
Report 2021-C102:
The Act on Complaints and Damages in the Health Care System (Act no. 547 of 24 June 2005 as amended by Consolidated act no. 24 of 21 January 2009 and Act no. 706 of 25 June 2010) is relevant for ILO convention no. 102.
By Act no. 706 of 25 June 2010 The National Agency for Patients' Rights and Complaints was established as a single point of access for patients who wish to complain about the professional treatment in the Danish health service. The key change is that it is now also possible to complain about the complete course of treatment (the professional activity of the health care system), where formerly it was only possible to complain about individual health care professionals. Patients, who file a complaint, are furthermore offered to enter into a dialogue with the health care professional in question.
Please find below links to:
Bekendtgørelse af lov om klage- og erstatningsadgang
Act no. 995 of 14 June 2018: https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2018/995
Report 2021-C102:
Reference is made to the previous report. However, since October 2015 a new authority - the Danish Patient Safety Authority - has taken over the tasks regarding patient complaints about the professional treatment in the Danish Health System from the former National Agency for Patients´ Rights and Complaints.
Since 1 February 2015 a digital self-service is available on www.borger.dk for submitting complaints.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013
Act 1257 of 18/12/2012
The act amends the Act on the Right to Complain and Receive Compensation within the Health Service. Before this amendment, compensation for injuries on patients occurring at private hospitals and clinics were covered by the Danish regions. Following the amendment, compensation will be covered by the private hospitals and health care clinics. In order to ensure that potential damages are covered, private hospitals and health care clinics will be subject to an insurance obligation.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the reference period 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017
Act, No 113 of 31 January 2017 to amend the Sickness Benefits Act, Authorization Act and Danish Act on the Right to Complain and receive compensation within the Healthcare System
Patients who complain about a healthcare service are offered a consultative dialogue with relevant healthcare professionals. With this Act, patients have the opportunity, on a permanent basis, to use an independent advisor free of charge in connection with the dialogue. The amendment applies as from 1 February 2017.
Report 2021 ECSS
Changes made during the reference period 1. July 2017 – 30 June 2018
Act No. 314 of 25 April 2018 to amend the Danish Act on the Right to Complain and Receive Compensation within the Health Service, cf. Consolidation Act No. 995 of 14 June 2018.
Patients, whose injuries occur in connection with treatment by the Danish Health Service, or due to adverse reactions caused by medicinal products, may receive financial compensation. The area of situations where compensation can be given has been extended, in terms of protection of the compensation. The amendment applies for cases where the Patient Compensation Association makes a decision on 1 July 2018 and onwards.
Act No. 522 of 29 May 2018 on Compensation for Pleural Mesothelioma indirectly caused by Asbestos
Family members/household members to persons who work with asbestos, are entitled to compensation for pleural mesothelioma. The compensation scheme has been in force since 1 January 2016, but is now passed by law. Furthermore, the law will be changed on 1 July 2021, by then persons diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma, who are not included as a part of the household, but who have been in close contact with a person who worked with asbestos are entitled to compensation.
Report 2021 ECSS:
Changes made during the reference period 1. July 2018 – 30 June 2019
With the amendment, which has been applied since 1 February 2017, any patient, who accepts an offer to enter into consultative dialogue with the relevant healthcare professionals, has to be offered an independent advisor, which they may bring to the meeting, free of charge. Before the amendment, the right to bring an advisor to the dialogue had its legal basis in the Public Administration Act; however, there was no requirement that the patient was offered an advisor. In 2013 the organization “Danish Patients” offered all patients who entered dialogue an independent advisor as part of a trial program. The trial was a success, and the program has been carried on since then, to some extent, with no basis in law. The amendment ensures that all patients who agree to consultative dialogue, are offered an independent advisor free of charge, and ensures that the program is permanent. This way all patients are ensured the opportunity to receive the same guidance. The independent advisors are not representatives for the patient, but support the patient to ensure that the consultative dialogue is comfortable, constructive, and equal. The amendment does not change the patient’s ability to appeal decisions to the court.
Changes made during reference period 1. July 2019 – 30 June 2021
Act no 601 of 12 April 2021 on Compensation for Pleural Mesothelioma indirectly caused by Asbestos which extends the compensation scheme. By the amendment, all persons who have been close to a factory that manufactures asbestos and have been exposed to this, will be covered by the compensation scheme, provided they have not worked at the factory themselves.
https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2021/601
See under Part XIII-3
Article 30. C130
1. Each Member shall accept general responsibility for the due provision of the benefits provided in compliance with this Convention and shall take all measures required for this purpose.
2. Each Member shall accept general responsibility for the proper administration of the institutions and services concerned in the application of this Convention.
Article 31. C130
Where the administration is not entrusted to an institution regulated by the public authorities or to a government department responsible to a legislature:
(a) representatives of the persons protected shall participate in the management under prescribed conditions;
(b) national legislation shall, where appropriate, provide for the participation of representatives of employers;
(c) national legislation may likewise decide as to the participation of representatives of the public authorities.
See under Part XIII-3
Report 2021-ECSS:
The state holds the overall regulatory and supervisory functions in Denmark, while the regions and municipalities are responsible for providing the healthcare services. This means that the regions and municipalities can adjust their services according to regional needs and available facilities within the financial and national legal framework. Thus, the nature of the benefits provided (including the pharmaceutical supplies provided and the services provided in case of hospitalisation) are determined by the relevant region or municipality and can vary across different regions and municipalities. However, the regional and local services provided by regions and municipalities are highly regulated by the National Health Authorities to ensure high quality and equal access.
Five administrative regions governed by democratically elected councils are responsible for the planning and delivery of specialized services, but also have tasks related to specialized social care and coordination. The regulation of task provided is partly determined by the yearly financial agreements.
The regions manage, and finance hospitals and the majority of services delivered by general practitioners (GPs), office-based specialists, physiotherapists, dentists, and pharmacists.
Municipalities are responsible for financing and delivering nursing home care, home nurses, some dental services, school health services, home help, and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. Municipalities are also responsible for general prevention and rehabilitation tasks; the regions are responsible for specialized rehabilitation.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013
Evaluation of the local government reform
The Government has conducted an evaluation of the local government reform, which was implemented in January 2007, and the division of tasks and responsibilities between the central government, the regions, and the municipalities. One of the main areas of focus for the evaluation was health care and public health. The other areas were specialized social services, regional development, and the environment. The evaluation was published in March 2013.
Within the area of health, the main conclusion is that the division of tasks is well-functioning in general, but there are a number of interface problems, which among other things mean that the patient pathways are not sufficiently coherent. Therefore, the evaluation puts forward a number of recommendations to strengthen and broaden the corporation between regions and municipalities and to strengthen preventive treatment, rehabilitation, and eHealth.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014:
Act no. 1463 of 17/12/2013
The Act implements the recommendations regarding the healthcare sector from the evaluation of the local government reform. In order to strengthen and broaden the corporation between regions and municipalities and to among other things strengthen preventive treatment and rehabilitation, a region and the municipalities within the geographical area of the region has to negotiate and agree on one health agreement (thus 5 in total in Denmark). Furthermore, changes have been made in order to ensure better possibilities for the regions to cooperate (through corporations, general partnerships, etc.) with both municipalities and companies regarding relevant tasks.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the period covered 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015:
Agreement on the organization of the future supervisory activities of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority
The 7th of May 2015 a political agreement on the organization of the future supervisory activities of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority as regard of supervision of the health sector and authorized health personnel was signed. The agreement includes a number of elements which will support the future supervisory activities. Greater transparency on the supervisory work of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority, allocation of additional resources, an end to the use of voluntary agreements tightening of the use of specialist statements, better filing (journalisation) practice, and reorganization towards a risk-based supervision are among some of the elements from the agreement.
Report 2021-ECSS:
Changes made during the reference period 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017
Act. 653 of 08/06/2016
As of 1 October 2016, patients have the right to a so-called ‘extended free choice of hospital’, if the region cannot ensure that treatment is initiated within 30 days. This means that patients may choose to go to a private hospital in Denmark or to a public or private hospital abroad at the expense of the region. The regions are also required to ensure that any patient referred to a hospital is assessed and given a time for appointment and diagnosis within 30 days from the date of referral. If the region is not able to provide the said appointment within 30 days because of lack of capacity, the extended free choice of the hospital also applies, i.e. the patient may go to a private hospital or a hospital abroad to be diagnosed. The right to treatment, diagnosis and extended free choice of hospital applies to both mental and physical illness.
Denmark has accepted the obligations resulting from Part III of C130 and Part III of the ECSS.
Category |
Relevant Articles |
Questions raised by the CEACR |
III-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.13 ECSS, Art.18 C130 |
|
III-2. Contingencies covered |
Art.14 ECSS, Art.7(b) C130 |
|
III-3. Persons Protected |
Art.15 ECSS, Art.19 C130 |
|
III-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.16 ECSS |
Art.21 C130 |
III-5. Qualifying period |
Art.17 ECSS, Art.25 C130 |
|
III-6. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.18 ECSS, Art.26 C130 |
|
III-7. Funeral Benefit |
Art.27 C130 |
|
III-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS, Art.28 C130 |
|
III-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS, Art.29 C130 |
|
III-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS Art.30,31 C130 |
Consolidated Act No 223 of 12 of February 2021 on Sickness Benefit as amended by:
Article 13. ECSS
Each Contracting Party for which this Part of the Code is in force shall secure to the persons protected the provision of sickness benefit in accordance with the following Articles of this Part.
Article 18. C130
Each Member shall secure to the persons protected, subject to prescribed conditions, the provision of sickness benefit in respect of the contingency referred to in subparagraph (b) of Article 7.
Article 14. ECSS
The contingency covered shall include incapacity for work resulting from a morbid condition and involving suspension of earnings, as defined by national laws or regulations.
Article 7 (b). C130
The contingencies covered shall include
(b) incapacity for work resulting from sickness and involving suspension of earnings, as defined by national legislation.
The general principle of the Sickness Benefit Act is that sickness benefit is paid by way of compensation in the event of loss of earning capacity owing to sickness, including injury.
The principal purpose of the law is to ensure that a person, who is incapable to work due to sickness, may receive both benefit and support, to secure that the sick person will be able to work as soon as possible.
Tax financed protection scheme for employees and self-employed with earnings-related benefits
The sickness benefits are paid by the employer in the first 30 days of the employees’ absence from work (the employer’s period). The sickness benefits are paid by the municipality if the employee is sick for more than 30 days. From the second day of absence, smaller companies may take out insurance to cover the cost of this period.
The first two weeks of a self-employed person’s sickness are paid by themselves, and in case the self-employed person is still sick after this period, the municipality pays the sickness benefits. Self-employed persons can take out insurance to cover some of the cost for the first two weeks – either from the first or the third day.
Sickness benefits to unemployed persons are paid by the unemployment funds during the first 14 days of the sickness period.
Report form for C130: Please indicate the degree of incapacity for work prescribed for entitlement to the sickness benefit. |
ILO reporting on C130 will take place in 2022 in accordance with the ILO regular reporting scheme.
Article 15. ECSS
The persons protected shall comprise:
a. prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all employees; or
b. prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 20 per cent of all residents; or
c. all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed limits prescribed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67.
Article 19. C130
The persons protected in respect of the contingency specified in subparagraph (b) of Article 7 shall comprise:
a. all employees, including apprentices; or
b. prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 75 per cent of the whole economically active population; or
c. all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed limits prescribed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 24.
Sickness benefits are granted to employed persons, unemployed persons, self-employed persons, and persons who have sustained an injury from work. The person must have an existing affiliation to the labour market and must fulfil the general requirements in the sickness benefits act.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state to which of the subparagraphs a), b), or c) of Article 15 of C102/ECSS recourse is had and provide for statistical data depending on the chosen subparagraph: Title I under Article 76 for Article 15(a) of C102/ECSS A. Number of employees protected[1]: All employees, who have a current connection to the labor market are protected by the rules. That includes unemployed person who are members of an unemployment insurance fund. i) under general scheme … The workforce in 2020 was 2.9 million. People aged 16-66 years. The workforce is made up of the employed and the unemployed ii) under special schemes (if any) … iii) Total … B. Total number of employees[2] … C. Number of employees protected (A(iii)) per cent of total number of employees (B). Please state how these data are computed and give dates of reference. 100 % of employees are protected if they fulfill the employment criteria. (Sources KMD and Statistics Denmark).
i. |
Title I under Article 76 for Article 15(a) of C102/ECSS
All employees, who have a current connection to the labor market are protected by the rules. That includes unemployed person who are members of an unemployment insurance fund.
The workforce in 2020 was 2.9 million. (People aged 16-66 years). The workforce is calculated on the basis of both employed and the unemployed persons.
100 % of employees are protected if they fulfill the employment criteria.
(Sources KMD and Statistics Denmark).
Article 16. ECSS
1. Where classes of employees or classes of the economically active population are protected, the benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated in such a manner as to comply either with the requirements of Article 65 or with the requirements of Article 66.
2. Where all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed prescribed limits are protected, the benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67; provided that a prescribed benefit shall be guaranteed, without means test, to the prescribed classes of persons determined in accordance with Article 15. a or b.
The sickness benefit referred to in Article 18 shall be a periodical payment and shall:
a. where employees or classes of the economically active population are protected, be calculated in such a manner as to comply either with the requirements of Article 22 or with the requirements of Article 23;
b. where all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed prescribed limits are protected, be calculated in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 24.
1. In the case of a periodical payment to which this Article applies, the rate of the benefit, increased by the amount of any family allowances payable during the contingency, shall be such as to attain for the standard beneficiary, in respect of the contingency referred to in subparagraph (b) of Article 7, at least 60 per cent of the total of the previous earnings of the beneficiary and of the amount of any family allowances payable to a person protected with the same family responsibilities as the standard beneficiary. […]
Sickness benefits are calculated based on previous income, either as an employee or as self-employed.
The sickness benefits to an employee are calculated on the basis of the weekly working hours during the absence and the hourly earnings that were achieved on average in the present employment within the last three months.
Sickness benefits for self-employed persons are calculated based on the income of the business as it is documented in the latest annual report from the tax authorities.
An unemployed person who is a member of an unemployment insurance fund receives the same amount of sickness benefits, which they would have been eligible to receive in unemployment benefits on the first day of unemployment, if they had not become ill.
The maximum amount of sickness benefits amounts to DKK 120.54 per hour (DKK 4,460 per week) in 2021. The amount is considered to be an appropriate level of benefits. The same maximum amount has been set for unemployment benefits and maternity benefits.
Moreover, it should be noted that the sickness benefits in Denmark is an individual right independent of the marital status of the receiver of the benefits. Likewise, the right is independent of the person’s status as a breadwinner. Most people are self-supporting in Denmark, and for the most part, both spouses contribute to the economic support of the family. The fact that the benefit is an individual right entails that both spouses can receive sickness benefits at the same time if both parties fulfil the legal requirements in the sickness benefits act.
Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)
Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130) (Ratification: 1978)
Part III (Sickness benefit). Calculation of the replacement level of benefit. The Committee notes, based on the statistics included in the Government’s reports, that the maximum amount of sickness benefit will surpass the level of 45 per cent of the total of the previous earnings of the standard beneficiary required by Convention No. 102, but does not appear to attain the level of at least 60 per cent established by Convention No. 130. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the replacement rate of the sickness benefit on the basis of the weekly or monthly amounts (not annual), in accordance with Title II under Article 22 of the Report form on Convention No. 130.
Report form for C102/ECSS/C130: 1. If recourse is had to subparagraphs (a) or (b) of Article 15 of C102/ECSS (Article 19 of C130) for determining the persons protected, please state whether you have recourse, for the calculation of the benefit, to the provisions of Article 65 or to those of Article 66 of C102/ECSS (Articles 22 or 23 of C130). 2. Please furnish information under this Article as follows: I. if recourse is had to Article 65 of C102/ECSS (Article 22 of C130), in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 65 below; II. if recourse is had to Article 66 C102/ECSS (Article 23 of C130), in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 66 below. For Article 65 of C102/ECSS (Article 22 of C130) Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit and the computation of the previous earnings. Please state whether recourse is had to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 65 and, if so, please indicate the maximum amount prescribed for the benefit or for the earnings taken into account for the computation of the benefit. B. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 6 of Article 65 you have recourse for selecting the skilled manual male employee to whose wage paragraph 3 of Article 65 refers. Please specify more particularly: a. if recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 6: i. how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the typical skilled employee belongs are determined with reference to paragraph 7; and ii. how the typical skilled employee in the major group is chosen; or b. if recourse is had to subparagraph (c) of paragraph 6, how the earnings of all persons protected are computed; or c. if recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of paragraph 6, how the average earnings of all the persons protected are computed. C. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the typical skilled employee is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 9 of Article 65. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. Please indicate the amount of the wage of the skilled manual male employee selected as shown under B (standard wage). Title II (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a man with a wife and two children where the previous earnings serving for the calculation of the benefit are equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during employment for a period equal to the time basis. F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during the contingency for a period equal to the time basis. G. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). Title V (replacement rate for a woman employee)[TAL5] The beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a woman employee whose previous earnings serving for the calculation of benefit were equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. G. Amount of benefit (D) per cent of the standard wage (C). For Article 66 of C102/ECSS, if chosen Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 4 and following of Article 66 recourse is had for selection of the ordinary adult male labourer to whose wage paragraph 1 of Article 66 refers. 1. Please specify, more particularly, whether recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 4; if so, please state: (i) how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the ordinary labourer belongs are determined, with reference to paragraph 5; and (ii) how the typical ordinary labourer in the major group is chosen. 2. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the ordinary adult labourer is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 7 of Article 66. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. B. Please state the amount of the wage of the ordinary adult labourer selected (standard wage). Title III (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given, for each scheme concerned, is a man with a wife of pensionable age. C. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. D. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during employment, for a period equal to the time basis. E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during the contingency, for a period equal to the time basis. F. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (C+E) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (B+D). Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit. Title V (replacement rate for a woman employee)[TAL7] The beneficiary for whom the following information should be given, for each scheme concerned, is a woman employee. C. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. F. Amount of benefit (C) per cent of the standard wage (B). Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit. |
Title I
The rules for the calculation is summarized in the text above. Information on the standard wage is to be found in Annex.
Title II (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) (covers male and female workers)
The calculation shows a situation with 3 months sickness benefit in a year
D. Amount of benefitgranted during the time basis. In 3 months: 53,772 DKK in 2016 and 55,397 DKK in 2019
E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during employment for a period equal to the time basis. Per year: 25,284 DKK in 2016 and 25,788 DKK in 2019
F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during the contingency for a period equal tothe time basis. Per year: 25,284 DKK in 2016 and 25,788 DKK in 2019 (The amount of family allowances for the given family is the same at full employment as in the situation with sickness)
G. Sum of benefit and familyallowances payable duringthe contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). 94.8 % in 2016 and 94.7 % in 2019
§1(i) Article 1 ECSS/C130
The term qualifying period means a period of contribution, or a period of employment, or a period of residence, or any combination thereof, as may be prescribed.
Article 17. ECSS
The benefit specified in Article 16 shall, in a contingency covered, be secured at least to a person protected who has completed such qualifying period as may be considered necessary to preclude abuse.
Article 25. C130
Where the legislation of a Member makes the right to the sickness benefit referred to in Article 18 conditional upon the fulfilment of a qualifying period by the person protected, the conditions governing the qualifying period shall be such as not to deprive of the right to benefit persons who normally belong to the categories of persons protected.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state the length of the qualifying period which has been considered necessary to preclude abuse. Please summarize the rules concerning the computation of the qualifying period. |
In order to be entitled to sickness benefits, a person has to fulfil certain criteria.
§ The persons must be unable to work because of their illness. The person must live in Denmark or be covered by Regulation (EC) No 883/04 on the coordination of social security systems;
§ The person must pay Danish tax on their income.
In addition, there are certain employment criteria the person must meet in order to receive sickness benefits. They are:
Employees:
Sickness benefits paid by the employer:
§ The minimum working period of 74 hours during the last eight weeks immediately preceding the sickness.
Sickness benefits paid by the municipality:
§ The employee must fulfil a period of work of at least 240 hours within the last six months immediately preceding the sickness, or
§ The employee must be entitled to benefits from unemployment insurance or similar benefits (activation measures) if they had not become ill, or
§ The employee must be entitled to temporary labour market benefit if they had not become ill, or
§ Persons who within the last month have completed a vocational education for a period of at least 18 months, or
§ Pupils in a vocational training course regulated by law, or
§ Persons in a flexible job (Fleksjob) with a private or public employer.
Self-employed:
§ Employment in own company within the last 12 month for at least six months in half of the contractual working time (normally 18.5 hours) of which one month immediately precedes the illness, or
§ Receipt of flex wage subsidy (flekslønstilskud) (i.e., a benefit for self-employed who have a flexible job in their own company).
Article 18. ECSS
The benefit specified in Article 16 shall be granted throughout the contingency, except that the benefit may be limited to 26 weeks in each case of sickness, need not be paid for the first three days of suspension of earnings.
Article 26. C130
1. The sickness benefit referred to in Article 18 shall be granted throughout the contingency: Provided that the grant of benefit may be limited to not less than 52 weeks in each case of incapacity, as prescribed.
2. Where a declaration made in virtue of Article 2 is in force, the grant of the sickness benefit referred to in Article 18 may be limited to not less than 26 weeks in each case of incapacity, as prescribed.
3. Where the legislation of a Member provides that sickness benefit is not payable for an initial period of suspension of earnings, such period shall not exceed three days.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether the duration of sickness benefit is limited and, if so, specify the limit or limits fixed and indicate how they are determined. Please state whether a waiting period is provided for and, if so, indicate the length of such period and the rules concerning its computation. See below. |
In principle, sickness benefit is a short-term benefit.
For employees, the first 30 days are paid by the employer, and after the 30 days, the municipality pays the sickness benefits. Every four weeks, the municipality must consider if the sickness benefit should continue, or if other measures should be initiated, e.g., rehabilitation or payment of a social pension. The municipality may ask for a medical certificate if they deem it necessary.
When the municipality has paid sickness benefits to a person for 22 weeks, the person will have received sickness benefits for 26 weeks; four weeks (the employer) + 22 weeks (the municipality)
When the municipality has paid sickness benefits for 22 weeks within a period of nine months to a person, the municipality must assess whether the person fulfils one of the seven criteria for an extension of sickness benefits. The criteria are:
1. if there is a strong probability that vocational rehabilitation measures will be initiated, which may lead to the sick person being able to return to work,
2. if it is considered necessary to carry out job training or to take other measures in order to clarify the sick person’s working capacity, the sickness benefit can be extended with a maximum of 69 weeks,
3. if the sick persons are undergoing or waiting for a medical treatment that is expected to restore the sick persons working capacity within 134 weeks,
4. if the local authorities have assessed that the case must be dealt with in the rehabilitation team to decide if the person can obtain a job clarification process, a flexi-job or disability pension,
5. if the person has a serious lethal illness, determined by a doctor,
6. if a case has been brought for compensation under the industrial injury legislation,
7. if an application has been filed for anticipatory social pension (early retirement)
If a person does not meet any of the criteria, but is nevertheless unable to work due to incapacity for work, the person may be offered a job assessment process with benefits during a process focusing on resources.
Waiting Period
For an employee, the right to sickness benefits begins from the first day of absence or from the first day of absence after the right to benefits from the employer has stopped (if they fulfil the criteria)
Self-employed persons are entitled to sickness benefits after two weeks of sickness.
Self-employed persons may choose to join a special insurance scheme for self-employed persons so that they will also be entitled to sickness benefits during the first two weeks of the sickness period. The insurance scheme is partly financed by the state.
Article 27. C130
1. In the case of the death of a person who was in receipt of, or qualified for, the sickness benefit referred to in Article 18, a funeral benefit shall, under prescribed conditions, be paid to his survivors, to any other dependants or to the person who has borne the expense of the funeral.
2. A member may derogate from the provision of paragraph 1 of this Article where:
a. it has accepted the obligations of Part IV of the Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Convention, 1967;
b. it provides in its legislation for cash sickness benefit at a rate of not less than 80 per cent of the earnings of the persons protected; and
c. the majority of persons protected are covered by voluntary insurance which is supervised by the public authorities and which provides a funeral grant.
Report form for C130: Please state under what circumstances funeral benefits are paid to the survivors of a deceased person who has in receipt of, or qualified for, sickness benefit, or to other dependants or to the person who bore the expense of the funeral. |
Death grants are meant as a subsidy to cover for funeral costs when a person deceases.
https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2015/561
Conditions
Death grants are provided to those who pay for a funeral of a person who was residing in Denmark and eligible to Danish health insurance or of a person that did not have Danish residence but was eligible to funeral benefits according to EU-regulations or a bilateral agreement between Denmark and another country.
Benefit rate
The amount provided depends on the age of the deceased and the financial circumstances of the deceased and his or her surviving husband/wife.
The maximum amounts provided to cover costs of a funeral is 9,750 DKK for a funeral of a child below the age of 18 and 11,650 DKK for a funeral of persons above 18 years.
The amounts provided are gradually reduced if the value of the assets of the deceased and his or her surviving husband/wife exceeds 19,550 DKK for a deceased without a spouse and 38,950 DKK for a deceased with a spouse and/or with children below the age of 18.
This means that if the value of the assets exceeds a certain amount, death grants will not be provided. For a deceased without a spouse the amount is 31,200 DKK. For a deceased with a spouse and/or children below the age of 18 the value of assets must not exceed 50,600 DKK.
However, the death grants provided to cover costs of a funeral of a person who was born before 1 April 1957 is always 1,050 DKK as a minimum.
The benefits are a lump sum.
Article 69, C102/ Article 68, ECSS
A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with any of Parts II to X of this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed:
a. as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
b. as long as the person concerned is maintained at public expense, or at the expense of a social security institution or service, subject to any portion of the benefit in excess of the value of such maintenance being granted to the dependants of the beneficiary;
c. as long as the person concerned is in receipt of another social security cash benefit, other than a family benefit, and during any period in respect of which he is indemnified for the contingency by a third party, subject to the part of the benefit which is suspended not exceeding the other benefit or the indemnity by a third party;
d. where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
e. where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
f. where the contingency has been caused by the wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
g. in appropriate cases, where the person concerned neglects to make use of the medical or rehabilitation services placed at his disposal or fails to comply with rules prescribed for verifying the occurrence or continuance of the contingency or for the conduct of beneficiaries;
Article 28. C130
1. A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed:
a. as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
b. as long as the person concerned is being indemnified for the contingency by a third party, to the extent of the indemnity;
c. where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
d. where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
e. where the contingency has been caused by the serious and wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
f. where the person concerned, without good cause, neglects to make use of the medical care or the rehabilitation services placed at his disposal, or fails to comply with rules prescribed for verifying the occurrence or continuance of the contingency or for the conduct of beneficiaries;
g. in the case of the sickness benefit referred to in Article 18, as long as the person concerned is maintained at public expense or at the expense of a social security institution or service; and
h. in the case of the sickness benefit referred to in Article 18, as long as the person concerned is in receipt of another social security cash benefit, other than a family benefit, subject to the part of the benefit which is suspended not exceeding the other benefit.
2. In the cases and within the limits prescribed, part of the benefit otherwise due shall be paid to the dependants of the person concerned.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please indicate the provisions, if any, for the suspension of sickness benefits. |
A person may lose the right to sickness benefit if they:
§ without acceptable reasons, do not participate in the municipality’s follow-up measures,
§ do not meet the obligation to report or document the absence from work as an employee due to illness,
§ delay the recovery process.
Article 70. C102, Article 69. ECSS
1. Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
2. Where in the application of this Convention (Code) a government department responsible to a legislature is entrusted with the administration of medical care, the right of appeal provided for in paragraph 1 of this article may be replaced by a right to have a complaint concerning the refusal of medical care or the quality of the care received investigated by the appropriate authority.
3. Where a claim is settled by a special tribunal established to deal with social security questions and on which the persons protected are represented, no right of appeal shall be required.
Article 29. C130
Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in the case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether every claimant has a right of appeal in case of refusal of sickness benefits or complaint as to its quality or quantity, as stipulated in paragraph 1 of this Article. Please summarize the rules which apply in the case of an appeal. |
If a person does not agree with the municipality’s decision regarding their sickness benefit case, they can file a complaint to the municipality within four weeks after the decision. The municipality then reassesses the complaint within four weeks after receiving the complaint.
If the municipality maintains its decision, the municipality will send the complaint to the appeal body, Ankestyrelsen.
III - 10. Financing and Administration
See under Part XIII-3
Part IV. Unemployment benefit
Denmark has accepted the obligations resulting from Part IV of C102 and Part IV of the ECSS.
Category |
Relevant Articles |
Questions raised by the CEACR |
IV-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.19 C102/ECSS |
|
IV-2. Contingency covered |
Art.20 C102/ECSS |
|
IV-3. Persons Protected |
Art.21 C102/ECSS |
|
IV-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.22 C102/ECSS |
|
IV-5. Qualifying period |
Art.23 C102/ECSS |
|
IV-6. Minimum duration of Benefit |
Art.24(1,2) C102/ECSS |
|
IV-7. Waiting period |
Art.24(3,4) C102/ECSS |
|
IV-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS |
|
IV-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art.69 ECSS |
|
IV-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102 Art.70,71 ECSS |
List of applicable legislation
Consolidated Act No 215 of 12 February 2021 on the Unemployment Insurance etc. as amended.
The Danish act on unemployment insurance incorporates Part IV of the international obligations.
A number of changes in the Danish unemployment insurance legislation have been introduced over the last couples of years. Most of the changes are the result of labour market reforms.
IV - 1. Regulatory framework
Article 19. C102 and ECSS
Each Member (Contracting Party) for which this Part of this Convention (Code) is in force shall secure to the persons protected the provision of unemployment benefit in accordance with the following Articles of this Part.
The unemployed have a statutory right to unemployment benefit in a voluntary scheme that is relatively easy to enter and to obtain benefits from. In this scheme, the compensation degree is for many low-paid groups as high as 90 per cent of the previous earnings.
To the unemployed persons, the important thing is to get back into work and then take it from there. All statistics show that it is far easier to go from a job to a better job than from unemployment to a job. Statistics also demonstrate that it is easier for short-term unemployed to get back into work compared to long-term unemployed. The availability rules play an important role and help to assist unemployed persons to get a job in the early stages of the unemployment period.
IV - 2. Contingency covered
Article 20. C102 and ECSS
The contingency covered shall include suspension of earnings, as defined by national laws or regulations, due to inability to obtain suitable employment in the case of a person protected who is capable of, and available for, work.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please give the definition of the contingency which, under national laws or regulations, gives rise to unemployment benefit. |
Entitlement to unemployment benefits is based on a number of conditions that must be met by the member of the unemployment insurance fund. To be entitled to unemployment benefit the full-time insured member must:
1. meet the membership requirement, i.e., have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least 12 months,
2. meet the work requirement, i.e., have reported an income of at least DDK 243,996 (2021) within the last three years. However, a maximum of DDK 20,333 (2021) per month can be included.
3. be registered as a jobseeker at the local public employment service (PES) and
4. be available for work,
Apprentices and persons who have completed vocational training of at least 18 months duration, can - regardless of the above mentioned (in 1 and 2) - qualify for unemployment benefits after one month of membership.
If the member meets all the requirements they will be entitled to unemployment benefits for two years within a three-year period (the benefit period). The member will be entitled to another two years of benefits every time they have been employed in the benefit period as a wage or salary earner or as a self-employed person for at least 52 weeks (1,924 hours) within the last three years. Only work in membership periods is taken into account. In order to encourage unemployed persons to take jobs of shorter duration, it is possible to extend the initial unemployment benefit period. Each reported working hour provides two hours of unemployment benefits. It is possible to extend the unemployment benefit period by one year within a 1.5 year period.
The amount of unemployment benefits constitutes 90 per cent of the previous earnings of the unemployed person subject to a maximum (DKK 19,322 per month). For part-time insured members, the benefits constitute a maximum of 2/3 of the maximum paid to a full-time insured member (DKK 12,881 per month). The amount of daily cash benefit is not influenced by the unemployed person’s means or by the earnings or means of a spouse or other family members.
All kinds of employment count when assessing the requirements of previous income and calculation of the unemployment benefit rate. This means that both incomes from self-employment, non-standard work, and standard work are taken into account. However, it is a demand that self-employed close down their business in order to receive unemployment benefit.
Thus with regard to the above-mentioned, the member may - by performing a minimum of work - be ensured economic support at a high level all their working life. The right to unemployment benefits expires when the member attains the age of 67 (the current Danish retirement age).
The unemployment insurance system is based on rights and obligations. A member that meets the above-mentioned requirements, obtains a right to unemployment benefits whenever unemployed - throughout the benefit period. In return, the member has the obligation to actively minimize each period of unemployment by actively seeking jobs. The obligation to minimize the “loss” is a general and central obligation in connection to all sorts of insurances. Therefore an unemployed person must register as a jobseeker with the local public employment service (PES) to be available for work throughout the period of unemployment at a days’ notice. Furthermore, this includes accepting measures that will upgrade skills and qualifications, thereby making unemployed persons better equipped to find a job and re-enter the labour market.
IV - 3. Persons protected
Article 21. C102 and ECSS
The persons protected shall comprise:
a. prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all employees; or
b. all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed limits prescribed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state to which of the subparagraphs of Article 21 of C102/ECSS recourse is had and provide for statistical data depending on the chosen subparagraph: Title I under Article 76 for Article 21(a) of C102/ECSS A. Number of employees protected[5]: i) under general scheme … ii) under special schemes (if any) … iii) Total … B. Total number of employees[6] … C. Number of employees protected (A(iii)) per cent of total number of employees (B). Please state how these data are computed and give dates of reference.
i. |
Recourse to sub-paragraph (a) under Article 21 of C102/ECSS.
The class includes all insured members of the recognised unemployment benefit funds who fulfil the conditions mentioned in article 20.
Title I under Article 76:
A. Number of insured persons as by January 2020: 2.250.000 .
B. Total number of employees: 2.900.000 .
C. A as a percentage of B: 77,6 percent
IV – 4. Level and Calculation of Benefit
Article 22. C102 and ECSS
1. Where classes of employees are protected, the benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated in such manner as to comply either with the requirements of Article 65 or with the requirements of Article 66.
2. Where all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed prescribed limits are protected, the benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67. [provided that a prescribed benefit shall be guaranteed, without means test, to the prescribed classes of employees determined in accordance with Article 21.a. - ECSS]
The calculation of the unemployment benefit rate is based on the 12 months with the highest income within the past 24 months. Only income in a membership period is included in the calculation. In general, the unemployment benefit rate will be 90 per cent of the previous income from employment. However, the rate is limited to the maximum rate of DKK 19,322 per month (2021).
Unemployment benefits in Denmark are an individual right independent of the benefit recipient’s marital status and status as a breadwinner. Most people are self-supporting in Denmark, and for the most part, both spouses contribute to the economic support of the family. The fact that the benefit is an individual right means that both spouses can receive unemployment benefits at the same time if both parties fulfil the legal requirements.
Temporary changes made due to the consequences of COVID-19
To minimize layoffs under the COVID-19 crisis, the Government, trade unions, and employers' organizations reached a tripartite agreement on a new, temporary work-sharing arrangement. The work-sharing arrangement allows private sector employers to reduce working hours for their employees at short notice, while employees obtain improved access to unemployment benefits at 120 per cent of the maximum unemployment benefit rate. The scheme is valid from September 2020 to December 2021 and the period will not be included in the members’ benefit period.
Due to the consequences of COVID-19, unskilled and skilled workers with outdated training are granted the right to higher unemployment benefits if they begin vocational education. Unemployed persons obtain the right to receive 110 per cent of the regular unemployment benefits if they begin vocational education within in-demand skills. That is skills for industries with high potential for subsequent employment in 2020-2021.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. If recourse is had to subparagraph a) of Article 21 of C102/ECSS for determining the persons protected, please state whether you have recourse, for the calculation of the benefit, to the provisions of Article 65 or to those of Article 66 of C102/ECSS. 2. Please furnish information under this Article as follows: I. if recourse is had to Article 65 of C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 65 below; II. if recourse is had to Article 66 C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 66 below. For Article 65 of C102/ECSS Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit and the computation of the previous earnings. Please state whether recourse is had to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 65 and, if so, please indicate the maximum amount prescribed for the benefit or for the earnings taken into account for the computation of the benefit. B. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 6 of Article 65 you have recourse for selecting the skilled manual male employee to whose wage paragraph 3 of Article 65 refers. Please specify more particularly: a. if recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 6: i. how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the typical skilled employee belongs are determined with reference to paragraph 7; and ii. how the typical skilled employee in the major group is chosen; or b. if recourse is had to subparagraph (c) of paragraph 6, how the earnings of all persons protected are computed; or c. if recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of paragraph 6, how the average earnings of all the persons protected are computed. C. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the typical skilled employee is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 9 of Article 65. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. Please indicate the amount of the wage of the skilled manual male employee selected as shown under B (standard wage). Title II (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a man with a wife and two children where the previous earnings serving for the calculation of the benefit are equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during employment for a period equal to the time basis. F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during the contingency for a period equal to the time basis. G. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). Title V (replacement rate for a woman employee)[TAL9] The beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a woman employee whose previous earnings serving for the calculation of benefit were equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. G. Amount of benefit (D) per cent of the standard wage (C). |
Title I
The rules for the calculation is summarized in the text above. Information on the standard wage is to be found in Annex.
Title II (Information on the replacement rate of benefit)
D. Amount of benefitgranted during the time basis. In 12 months: 215,086 DKK in 2016 and 221,586 DKK in 2019
E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during employment for a period equal to the time basis. Per year: 25,284 DKK in 2016 and 25,788 DKK
F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during the contingency for a period equal tothe time basis. Per year: 25,284 DKK in 2016 and 25,788 DKK (The amount of family allowances for the given family is the same at full employment as in the situation with unemployment)
G. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). 79.1 % in 2016 and 77.6 % in 2019
IV – 5. Qualifying period
§1(f) Article 1 C102, §1(i) Article 1 ECSS
The term qualifying period means a period of contribution, or a period of employment, or a period of residence, or any combination thereof, as may be prescribed.
Article 23. C102 and ECSS
The benefit specified in Article 22 shall, in a contingency covered, be secured at least to a person protected who has completed such qualifying period as may be considered necessary to preclude abuse.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state the length of the qualifying period which has been considered necessary to preclude abuse. Please summarize the rules concerning the computation of the qualifying period. |
The qualifying period for unemployment insurance benefit is:
a. Membership of an unemployment insurance fund for at least one year, and
b. Having an income of at least 243.996 DDK (2021) earned within a reference period of the latest 36 months. However, a maximum amount of 20.333 DKK per month (2021) applies, which means that at least 12 months of employment is necessary.
Re-entitlement to unemployment benefits requires employment as a wage or salary earner or as a self-employed person for at least 52 weeks (1,924 hours – corresponding to one year of full-time work) within the last 3 years. For part-time insured members, the work requirement is 34 weeks (1,258 hours) within the last 3 years.
IV - 6. Minimum duration of Benefit
§1§2 Article 24. C102 and ECSS
1. The benefit specified in Article 22 shall be granted throughout the contingency, except that its duration may be limited,
a. where classes of employees are protected, to 13 weeks within a period of 12 months, [or to 13 weeks in each case of suspension of earnings - ECSS]; or
b. where all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed prescribed limits are protected, to 26 weeks within a period of 12 months; [provided that the duration of the prescribed benefit, guaranteed without means test, may be limited in accordance with sub‑paragraph a of this paragraph - ECSS].
2. Where national laws or regulations provide that the duration of the benefit shall vary with the length of the contribution period and/or the benefit previously received within a prescribed period, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article shall be deemed to be fulfilled if the average duration of benefit is at least 13 weeks within a period of 12 months.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether the duration of unemployment benefits is limited and, if so, specify the limit or limits fixed and indicate how they are determined. |
If all the requirements are met, the member will be entitled to unemployment benefits for two years within a three-year period (the benefit period), calculated in hours – 3,848 hours within a three-year period.
It is possible to extend the period if the member has, for example, been ill or on maternity leave.
The member may prolong the benefit period up to 50 per cent (one year within a 1.5-year-period) by taking all types of work on ordinary terms during the benefit period. This means more flexibility in the accumulation of the right to unemployment benefit. Each working hour extends the unemployment benefit period by two hours.
The member will resume the right to a new two-year benefit period if the member has been employed as a wage or salary earner or as a self-employed person for at least 52 weeks (1,924 hours) within the last three years. Only work in membership periods is taken into account.
Temporary changes made due to the consequences of COVID-19
Due to the consequences of COVID-19, the Danish Government has decided that during the period between 1 March and 31 August 2020 and between 1 January and 30 June 2021, unemployed persons do not spend their right to unemployment benefits, nor do they spend their right to supplementary unemployment benefits.
Unemployed persons who lose their rights to unemployment benefit in the period 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021, will have their unemployment benefit extended by two months. If the right to unemployment benefits expires in the period 1 November 2021 to 31 December 2021, as a result of the pause in the unemployment benefit seniority from 1 January 2021 to 28 February 2021, the unemployment benefit will likewise be extended by two months.
Unemployment beneficiaries may thereby receive unemployment benefits for up to fourteen months longer. To be covered by the measure, it is a condition that the unemployed person is a member of an unemployment insurance fund in the periods.
No recourse to paragraph 2.
IV – 7. Waiting Period
§3§4 Article 24. C102 and ECSS
3. The benefit need not be paid for a waiting period of the first seven days in each case of suspension of earnings, counting days of unemployment before and after temporary employment lasting not more than a prescribed period as part of the same case of suspension of earnings.
4. In the case of seasonal workers the duration of the benefit and the waiting period may be adapted to their conditions of employment.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether a waiting period is provided for and, if so, indicate the length of such period and the rules concerning its computation. Please state whether any special rules have been adopted as regards benefits /or seasonal workers and, if so, what are these rules. |
No waiting period for employees.
In the case that the unemployment is self-induced, there is a waiting period of three weeks before the unemployed will receive unemployment benefits.
Persons who stop running their own business as the main occupation will not receive benefits until after a waiting period. The waiting period starts the day after showing documentation that the business is closed down.
The waiting period is generally three weeks, but if the closure of the business is caused by bankruptcy or foreclosure sale, it may be reduced to one week.
Furthermore, as an incentive to take a job while receiving unemployment benefits, there is a waiting period of one day every four months. Every four months, the unemployment insurance fund must review the working hours in the last four months. If the unemployed person has not worked for more than 148 hours within the four months, the unemployment insurance fund must deduct one day's benefits. The unemployed person may avoid the waiting day if they have received payment for more than 148 hours of work within the last four months.
Persons becoming unemployed after self-employment have a waiting period of three weeks (under certain circumstances one week). No other waiting periods are provided.
IV - 8. Suspension of Benefit
Article 69, C102/ Article 68, ECSS
A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with any of Parts II to X of this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed:
a. as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
b. as long as the person concerned is maintained at public expense, or at the expense of a social security institution or service, subject to any portion of the benefit in excess of the value of such maintenance being granted to the dependants of the beneficiary;
c. as long as the person concerned is in receipt of another social security cash benefit, other than a family benefit, and during any period in respect of which he is indemnified for the contingency by a third party, subject to the part of the benefit which is suspended not exceeding the other benefit or the indemnity by a third party;
d. where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
e. where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
f. where the contingency has been caused by the wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
g. in the case of unemployment benefit, where the person concerned has failed to make use of the employment services placed at his disposal;
h. in the case of unemployment benefit, where the person concerned has lost his employment as a direct result of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute, or has left it voluntarily without just cause; and
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please indicate the provisions, if any, for the suspension of unemployment benefits. |
The right to unemployment benefits expires when the person attains the age of 67 (the current Danish retirement age).
The right to unemployment benefit may expire in pursuance of the provisions laid down in sub-paragraphs (d), (h), and (i) of Article 68:
d. The rights to benefit may lapse for a certain period of time if the member has acted grossly negligent or fraudulent in relation to the unemployment insurance fund, e.g., misleading information, etc.
h. Benefit is not payable to an unemployed member who - without good cause - refuses to take a reasonable job, or if the public employment service or the unemployment insurance fund has tried in vain to fill a job by referring the member to an interview with an employer and the member has not had a valid cause for refusing or has failed to turn up. As a first-time sanction, there is a waiting period of three weeks before unemployment benefits will be paid again. In repeated cases, the member will have to re-qualify for entitlement to unemployment benefits through ordinary employment.
i. No benefit can be paid to a member who is affected by a strike or lockout while the dispute takes place. A member who - without good cause - quits his job will forfeit the entitlement to unemployment benefits for three weeks. In repeated cases, the member will have to re-qualify for entitlement to unemployment benefits through ordinary employment.
If the unemployed cancels or fails to appear at a meeting that the unemployment insurance fund or the PES has appointed, the unemployed will lose benefits for that day, and payments are cut off until the unemployed contacts the organiser of the meeting. This applies regardless of the type of meeting or activity.
If a person refuses a job offer, the unemployment insurance fund will have to assess whether or not the refusal is to be sanctioned. The refusal will not be sanctioned, if the person has had a valid reason for refusing the job offer, for instance, due to health problems or transportation time. There are 11 valid reasons for refusing a job after administrative order on self-induced unemployment. If the refusal is to be sanctioned, the person will be “self-inflicted unemployed” and the benefit will, in most cases, be suspended for three weeks. After the suspension, the person will be eligible for unemployment benefits again. However, if a person is continuously non-compliant the benefits will be suspended until documented that the person has been employed over 300 hours in a consecutive period of time.
All the valid reasons are listed in the statutory order of 25 November 2019 on self-inflicted unemployment. Order No 1169 of 25 November 2019 Chapter 3 Valid reasons § 12.A valid reason must be available at the time when a member refuses or terminates a job, including a reference work, or refuses or ceases to be an offer. PCS.2.There is no valid reason if the reason for refusal, cancellation or termination is a derived result of an action that the member has made his choice. Health § 13.A member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer if there is documentation from a doctor, 1. the member because of his health is not or only with difficulty can perform the work, or 2. that the work will lead to the creation or exacerbation of health problems, including problems in pregnancy. PCS.2.Upon the termination or expiration is a requirement that the member has tried to get another job in the workplace, unless it is proved that the workplace is no employment, the member will be able to perform. Transport § 14.A member may terminate a job or discontinue an offer if the distance between home and work means that the time needed for transport, is more than what should be accepted in accordance with § 9 of the Ordinance on availability, and the termination occurs in connection to 1. conversion of public transport, however see paragraph 2 2. modification of the roster, however see paragraph 2 3. cancellation of a private agreement about carpooling with people outside the member's household where the member has no right to dispose of the means of transport, however see paragraph 2 or 4. the spouse or partner moves see paragraph 3. PCS.2. It is a requirement that the termination occurs in direct connection with the stated reason, and that the member upon the termination has tried to get other working hours PCS 3. The following requirements must be met: 1. The spouse or partner moves to a. Take over the work of more than 5 weeks b. Begin a course of at least 18 months, or continue in education, where there are at least 18 months of the program, or c. Starting or moving a separate activity carried on more than temporary and to an extent that can be treated as paid employment for more than 30 hours a week 2. The spouse or partner’s daily transport from the former resident to the new work, etc. is more than what should be accepted in accordance with § 9 of the Ordinance on availability 3. The member and the spouse or partner move happens from one common resident to another common resident. 4. The member termination and relocation occurs within 1 year after the spouse or partner has moved PCS 4. A member may terminate a job, if the distance between the residence and the place of work means that the transportation time is more than what should be accepted in accordance with § 9 of the Ordinance on availability, and the termination take place in connection with the member moves to Denmark from abroad. It is a requirement that the work was performed abroad or in Greenland and that the member isn’t
Care of family § 15.A member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer if the member did not care option for children or other family members of the household who require care. PCS.2.Upon termination, the member must have tried to get another working hours, and it must have made reasonable attempts to procure a ball opportunity. Part-time insured working § 16.A part-time insured member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer if the working time is over 6 hours a day or averaged for one month is more than 30 hours a week. PCS.2.Upon termination of employment or upon termination of an offer, it is a requirement that the changed working hours imposed on the member by the employer and the member has not accepted working. Loss of supplementary benefits § 17.A member may deny or terminate a job if the member loses the right to supplementary benefits. PCS.2. A member may at the earliest terminate and resign from job at the end of the month in with the right to supplementary benefits expires, see. § 60 paragraph.1 and § 73 paragraph.2 of the Act. PCS 3. A member may terminate a job and resign within 26 weeks after the end of the month in with the right to supplementary unemployment benefits expired, see. § 60 paragraph.1 and § 73 paragraph.2 of the Act. A release certificate § 18.A member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer if the member loses the right to supplementary benefits because the employer will not issue a release certificate or call a release certificate back. PCS.2.Upon termination and cessation is a requirement that the member has not agreed to continue the work without also receive supplementary benefits. Care of disabled or seriously ill child or dying related § 19.A member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer if the member is or soon after start getting 1. support for the Social Services to care for a disabled child 2. support for the Social Services Act to fit close to them who want to die in their own homes, or 3. support the law on the right to leave and daily allowances for maternity to care for a seriously ill child. PCS.2.Upon termination is a requirement that the member has been refused to take a leave from work. The workplace § 20.A member may terminate employment or cease in an offer, the general principles of labour law means that the member does not need to continue the work. PCS.2.It is a requirement that the member has contacted the employer to resolve the problems encountered possibly through the professional organization. Severance pay § 21.A member may terminate a job if the member by a severance receive compensation from the employer, which results in deductions in allowances paid in accordance with Order of deductibility of unemployment benefits, etc. PCS.2.It is a requirement; 1. the compensation given as part of a redundancy plan and 2. the compensation with salaries in the period in which the member's notice period runs, at least equivalent to salary for the period corresponding to the employer's notice. Takeover of work, etc., As the member himself has found § 22. A member may deny or terminate a job if it is because the member must 1. take over the work of more than 5 weeks, 2. start on a course of at least one year, or 3. begin a self-employed more than temporary and to an extent that can be treated as paid employment for more than 30 hours a week. PCS. 2. A member may terminate a job if the member has been dismissed by a reason that is not primarily due to the member to take over other work at the time of termination is expected to continue beyond the time at which the member would otherwise have been resigned. PCS. 3. The member's total working after rejection or after the termination must be of a scale that cannot qualify for additional benefits or be at the same or higher weekly hours than the work being refused or terminated. PCS. 4. A member may cease in an offer if it is because the member must 1. take over the work of more than 5 weeks, 2. accept work with a daily working time of at least 4 hours or a working week of 20 hours 3. begin a course of at least one year, or 4. start a self-employed more than temporary and to an extent that can be treated as paid employment for more than 30 hours a week. Military service, etc. § 23. A member may deny or terminate a job or refuse or discontinue an offer to do military or civilian service, perform UN service or equivalent tasks covered by the law on military service leave and leave for UN etc. PCS. 2. It is a requirement that the member not subject to the law on military service leave and leave for UN etc. |
IV – 9. Right of complaint and appeal
§1§3. Article 70. C102, Article 69. ECSS
1. Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
3. Where a claim is settled by a special tribunal established to deal with social security questions and on which the persons protected are represented, no right of appeal shall be required.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether every claimant has a right of appeal in case of refusal of unemployment benefits or complaint as to its quality or quantity, as stipulated in paragraph 1 of this Article. Please summarize the rules which apply in the case of an appeal. |
Decisions taken by the unemployment insurance fund may be appealed to The Centre for Complaints on Unemployment Insurance (Center for klager om arbejdsløshedsforsikring), which is subject to The Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment. Decisions by The Centre for Complaints on Unemployment Insurance can be appealed to The National Social Appeal Board (Ankestyrelsen), whose decisions are final. Furthermore, decisions made by any of these bodies can be appealed to the National Courts. However, the courts will often choose to await the final decision of The National Social Appeal Board before trying a case.
In the Act on Public Administration[7], minimum standards are set for the administrative proceeding made by the public authorities in order to ensure the protection of a person subject to a decision made by the public authorities. As stated in the Act on Public Administration, decisions made by the PES leading to a placement or referral to a job fall within the concept of a decision made by public authorities. Consequently, the person referred to the job will have the right to appeal the decision of the PES to The National Social Appeal Board. The PES will have to reassess its decision before sending the appeal to The National Social Appeal Board. The decision made by The National Social Appeal Board is final.
IV - 10. Financing and Administration
See under Part XIII-3
The unemployment insurance system as a voluntary scheme is administered by private unemployment insurance funds. The funds are private associations of employees or self-employed persons who have joined an association to ensure economic support for the members in the event of unemployment.
There are 22 state recognised unemployment insurance funds with approximately 2,250,000 members. Some of the unemployment insurance funds are closely connected with the trade unions and other occupational organisations, but there are no requirements as to membership of such an organisation in order to become a member of an unemployment insurance fund.
Denmark has accepted the obligations resulting from Part V of C102 and Part V of the ECSS.
Category |
Relevant Articles |
Questions raised by the CEACR |
V-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.25 C102/ECSS |
|
V-2. Contingency covered |
Art.26 C102/ECSS |
|
V-3. Persons Protected |
Art.27 C102/ECSS |
|
V-4. Level and Calculation of Benefit |
Art.28 C102/ECSS |
|
V-5. Adjustment of Benefit |
Art.65(10)C102/ECSS or Art.66(8)C102/ECSS |
|
V-6. Qualifying period |
Art.29 C102/ECSS |
|
V-7. Duration of Benefit |
Art.30 C102/ECSS |
|
V-8. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.68 ECSS, Art.69 C102 |
|
V-9. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.69 ECSS, Art.70 C102 |
|
V-10. Financing and Administration |
Art.70,71 ECSS Art.71,72 C102 |
Act. No. 234 12 February 2021 https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2021/234
Article 25. C102 and ECSS
Each Member (Contracting Party) for which this part of this Convention (Code) is in force shall secure to the persons protected the provision of old‑age benefit in accordance with the following Articles of this Part.
Article 26. C102 and ECSS
1. The contingency covered shall be survival beyond a prescribed age.
2. The prescribed age shall be not more than 65 years or such higher age [that the number of residents having attained that age is not less than 10 per cent of the number of residents under that age but over 15 years of age - ECSS] as may be fixed by the competent authority with due regard to the working ability of elderly persons in the country concerned.
3. National laws or regulations may provide that the benefit of a person otherwise entitled to it may be suspended if such person is engaged in any prescribed gainful activity or that the benefit, if contributory, may be reduced where the earnings of the beneficiary exceed a prescribed amount and, if non-contributory, may be reduced where the earnings of the beneficiary or his other means or the two taken together exceed a prescribed amount.
Report form for ECSS: Please state the age for title to old-age benefit. If this age is more than 65, please indicate the number of residents having attained that age per cent of the total number of residents under that age but over 15 years of age. Please state whether recourse is had to paragraph 3 of this Article and, if so, please summarize the rules concerning the suspension or the reduction of benefit where the beneficiary is engaged in any gainful activity. |
The pension scheme is universal and covers the entire Danish population. The right to pension is acquired on the basis of residency in Denmark, and it is thereby not conditioned by contributions nor periods of employment completed in Denmark. In principle, the disbursed pension amounts are uniform and not graduated according to the previously earned income of the pensioner.
The municipalities are in charge of the administration. The expenses are reimbursed via the Central Government budget.
The pension consists of a basic amount and a pension supplement. Pensioners whose financial situation is particularly difficult, may also receive a personal allowance and a health allowance.
Supplementary pension allowance
A supplementary pension allowance was introduced on 27 December 2003 to include another allowance in helping out pensioners with a difficult financial situation. The allowance was originally a temporary allowance negotiated each year in connection with the finance bill, but in December 2004, it was made permanent. The supplementary pension allowance is means tested.
Deferred pension
Regulation on deferred pension was introduced in 2004. From 1 July 2004, all persons who have attained the age of 65 (pensionable age) - and also persons over 65 years who have received a social pension for a period, may choose to defer social pension and participate actively on the labour market in return for a higher pension at a later stage. It is a condition that the person who has deferred their social pension, receives an income from personal work for at least 1000 hours each calendar year.
When the person chooses to take out a social pension, the current social pension payment is increased by a percentage (the deferral percentage) during the rest of the pensioner’s life. The deferral percentage is calculated as the ratio between the number of months that the pension has been deferred and the average life expectancy of the citizen when taking up the social pension.
Denmark has pioneered in the sense that pension age is linked to the developments in life expectancy. Thus, the present standard pensionable age of 66 (2020) will be raised to 67 by 2022 and thereafter from 67 to 68 in 2030 and from 68 to 69 in 2035. People working after reaching pensionable age can earn higher pensions. Public pensions are fully indexed to wages.
Early social pension:
On 10 October 2020, the Government (The Social Democratic Party), The Red-Green Alliance, The Socialist People's Party, and The Danish People’s Party reached a political agreement introducing a new early social pension aimed at workers who entered the labour market at an early age. The model is based on how many years a person has been in the labour market between the age of 16 and 61. Thus, a person can retire 1-3 years earlier than the standard pension age if they have worked between 42-44 years when they are 61 years old. The demands will rise as the pension age increases. In the determination of how many years an individual has worked, time spent on for example parental leave, working as an self-employed, paid internships as part of education, part-time work, ‘flex jobs’, and time unemployment benefit and sickness benefit is included. The bill was adopted by the Danish Parliament on December 21 2020 and entered into force on 1 January 2021. The technical setup and implementation are currently being developed. Applications for early social pension can be submitted from 1 August 2021, and from 1 January 2022, people can retire on an early social pension.
Article 27. C102 and ECSS
The persons protected shall comprise:
a. prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all employees; or
b. prescribed classes of the economically active population, constituting not less than 20 per cent of all residents; or
c. all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed limits prescribed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67.
The public old-age pension scheme covers the whole of the Danish population. The following persons are entitled to pensions:
§ Danish nationals
§ Refugees and stateless persons who have been granted a permanent residence in Denmark
§ Foreign nationals covered by international or bilateral agreements on social security;
§ Other foreign nationals who have been resident in Denmark for a minimum of 10 years between the age of 15 and pensionable age, of which not less than 5 years immediately prior to the date on which the pension is first payable.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state to which of the subparagraphs of Article 27 of C102/ECSS recourse is had and provide for statistical data depending on the chosen subparagraph: Title I under Article 76 for Article 27(a) of C102/ECSS A. Number of employees protected[8]: The whole Danish population are covered by the pension scheme i) under general scheme … ii) under special schemes (if any) … iii) Total … B. Total number of employees[9] … C. Number of employees protected (A(iii)) per cent of total number of employees (B). Please state how these data are computed and give dates of reference. Title II under Article 76 for Article 27(b) of C102/ECSS A. Number of economically active persons protected[10]: The whole Danish population are covered by the pension scheme i) under general scheme … ii) under special schemes (if any) … iii) Total … B. Total number of residents[11]… 5,8 million C. Number of economically active persons protected (A(iii)) per cent of total number of residents (B). Please state how these data are computed and give dates of reference. Title III under Article 76 for Article 27(c) of C102/ECSS A. Please give the rules applied to determine whether a resident is entitled to benefit during the contingency covered. B. Please indicate, more particularly: a. the amount of the means of any description which excludes a resident altogether from entitlement to benefit; i. the amount of the means of any description which is allowed without a reduction of the full benefit. |
See above. The public old-age pension scheme covers the whole of the Danish population.
V - 4. Level and Calculation of Benefit
Article 28. C102 and ECSS
The benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated as follows:
a. where classes of employees or classes of the economically active population are protected, in such a manner as to comply either with the requirements of Article 65 or with the requirements of Article 66;
b. where all residents whose means during the contingency do not exceed prescribed limits are protected, in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Article 67.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. If recourse is had to subparagraph a) of Article 28 of C102/ECSS for determining the persons protected, please state whether you have recourse, for the calculation of the benefit, to the provisions of Article 65 or to those of Article 66 of C102/ECSS. 2. Please furnish information under this Article as follows: a. if recourse is had to Article 65 of C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, III and V under Article 65 below; b. if recourse is had to Article 66 C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, III and V under Article 66 below. For Article 65 of C102/ECSS, if chosen Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit and the computation of the previous earnings. Please state whether recourse is had to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 65 and, if so, please indicate the maximum amount prescribed for the benefit or for the earnings taken into account for the computation of the benefit. B. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 6 of Article 65 you have recourse for selecting the skilled manual male employee to whose wage paragraph 3 of Article 65 refers. Please specify more particularly: a. if recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 6: i. how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the typical skilled employee belongs are determined with reference to paragraph 7; and ii. how the typical skilled employee in the major group is chosen; or b. if recourse is had to subparagraph (c) of paragraph 6, how the earnings of all persons protected are computed; or c. if recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of paragraph 6, how the average earnings of all the persons protected are computed. C. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the typical skilled employee is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 9 of Article 65. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. Please indicate the amount of the wage of the skilled manual male employee selected as shown under B (standard wage). Title III (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given, for each scheme concerned, is a man with a wife of pensionable age where the previous earnings of the husband serving for the calculation of the benefit are equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I, under C, above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis.[12] E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during employment, for a period equal to the time basis. None F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during the contingency, for a period equal to the time basis. None G. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). Title V (replacement rate for a woman employee) The beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a woman employee whose previous earnings serving for the calculation of benefit were equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. 10,225 DKK G. Amount of benefit (D) per cent of the standard wage (C). For Article 66 of C102/ECSS, if chosen Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 4 and following of Article 66 recourse is had for selection of the ordinary adult male labourer to whose wage paragraph 1 of Article 66 refers. 1. Please specify, more particularly, whether recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 4; if so, please state: (i) how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the ordinary labourer belongs are determined, with reference to paragraph 5; and (ii) how the typical ordinary labourer in the major group is chosen. 2. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the ordinary adult labourer is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 7 of Article 66. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. B. Please state the amount of the wage of the ordinary adult labourer selected (standard wage). Title III (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given, for each scheme concerned, is a man with a wife of pensionable age. C. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis.[13] D. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during employment, for a period equal to the time basis. E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during the contingency, for a period equal to the time basis. F. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (C+E) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (B+ D). Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit. Title V (replacement rate for a woman employee) The beneficiary for whom the following information should be given, for each scheme concerned, is a woman employee. C. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. Woman without a man: F. Amount of benefit (C) per cent of the standard wage (B). Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit. 3. If recourse is had to subparagraph b) of Article 28 of C102/ECSS for determining the persons protected, please state provide the following statistical data under Article 67 of C102/ECSS. TITLE I A. Please state how the scale determining the rate of benefit is prescribed or fixed. Please include a copy of such scale with this report. B. Please state whether recourse is had to the provisions of subparagraph (b) of Article 67 and, if so, indicate the reductions made in the rate of benefit according to the amount of the other means of the family of the beneficiary. TITLE III The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be furnished, for each scheme concerned, is a man with a wife of pensionable age whose means during the contingency are lower than or equal to the substantial amounts shown under Article 27 above. The old-age pension are not financed by means of contributions from employers and employees, The full income-tested pension, including the pensions supplement but excluding all other supplements: A man with a wife: C. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis.[14] D. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during employment, for a period equal to the time basis. None E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during the contingency, for a period equal to the time basis. None F. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (C+ E) per cent of sum of the standard wage[15] and the family allowances payable during employment (B+D).
TITLE V Note: If recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of Article 67, please give the information requested in Title I under Article 66 and, in addition, the information requested below. A. Total amount of benefits paid under the schemes concerned during the period covered by the report. B. Total number of residents.[16] 5,8 million. C. 20 per cent of the total number of residents.
F. Total amount of benefit that would be payable according to Article 66 = percentage shown in the Schedule to Part XI multiplied by standard wage calculated as shown under Title I under Article 66 multiplied by E.[17] |
Title III (Information on the replacement rate of benefit)
D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis 88.116 DKK
E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during employment, for a period equal to the time basis: None
F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable in respect of the wife during the contingency, for a period equal to the time basis: None
G. Sum of benefit and family allowances payable during the contingency (D+F) per cent of sum of the standard wage and family allowances payable during employment (C+E). 61 pct.
The old-age pension are not financed by means of contributions from employers and employees,
TITLE V
Note: If recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of Article 67, please give the information requested in Title I under Article 66 and, in addition, the information requested below.
A. Total amount of benefits paid under the schemes concerned during the period covered by the report.
B. Total number of residents.[18] 5,8 million.
C. 20 per cent of the total number of residents.
§10 Article 65, §8 Article 66. C102 and ECSS
The rates of current periodical payments in respect of old age, employment injury (except in case of incapacity for work), invalidity and death of breadwinner, shall be reviewed following substantial changes in the general level of earnings where these result from substantial changes in the cost of living.
Draft Resolution CM/ResCSS(2021) ….
on the application of the European Code of Social Security
by Denmark
(Period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020)
V. concerning Part XI (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments), Article 65(10), Adjustment of long-term benefits to the cost of living, the Committee of Ministers takes note of the statistical data on the cost of living and the increase of wages since 2011 provided by the Government in reply to its previous request. According to the data provided, the Committee of Ministers notes that the increase of the index of earnings (11.4 per cent) exceeded the increase of the cost-of-living index, i.e. the index of consumer prices (6.6 per cent). The Committee of Ministers further notes the explanation by the Government that social benefits are adjusted annually in accordance with the so-called satsreguleringsprocent (annual rate of adjustment), which corresponds to the increase of wages in the previous year. The data also shows the increase to which unemployment benefits were subject between 2011 and 2018. On this basis, the Committee of Ministers observes that there is a mechanism in place which not only ensures the maintenance of the purchasing power of benefits, but also that pensioners share equally with wage-earners in any increase of the general standard of living in line with earnings.Recalling that Article 65(10) of the Code specifically requires the regular adjustment of long-term benefits, i.e. of old-age, invalidity and survivors pensions as well as of disability pensions payable in case of employment injury, the Committee of Ministers requests the Government to provide further information as indicated below;
II. concerning Part XI (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments), Article 65(10), Adjustment of long-term benefits to the cost of living, to provide in the next report a comparison between the increase of these benefits over time with the cost-of-living and the earnings index, as indicated in Title VI of Article 65 of the report form for the Code.
Report Form for the ECSS (Title VI): 1. Please state the methods adopted for giving effect, where necessary, to the provisions of paragraph 10 of Article 65 or of paragraph 8 of Article 66 of C102 and the ECSS. 2. Please give the following information:
3. Please state whether the amount of the periodical payments has been reviewed during the period of reference. If so, please indicate the changes made in the level of benefits and furnish the following information:
|
Period under review[24] |
Benefit |
||
Average per Beneficiary[25] |
Benefit for Standard Beneficiary |
Other estimates of benefits level |
|
A. Beginning of period (2016)……………………….. B. End of period (2019)……………………………….. C. Percentage A………………………………… B |
117.601 DDK 124.688 DDK 106 % |
166.144 DDK 176.835 DDK 106 % |
36.894 DDK 38.208 DDK 104 % |
Title VI under article 65:
Pensions are adjusted as at 1 January each year in accordance with increases in wages.
Report 2016-C102: Public old-age pension is adjusted annually, on the basis of the trend in wages in the private sector. The adjustment is reduced by 0.3 percentage point if the wage increase exceeds 2.0 per cent. The resultant savings on expenditure are to be used on initiatives that benefit pensioners and other groups of transfer payment recipients whose benefits have been correspondingly adjusted.
§1(f) Article 1 C102, §1(i) Article 1 ECSS
The term qualifying period means a period of contribution, or a period of employment, or a period of residence, or any combination thereof, as may be prescribed.
Article 29. C102 and ECSS
1. The benefit specified in Article 28 shall, in a contingency covered, be secured at least:
a. to a person protected who has completed, prior to the contingency, in accordance with prescribed rules, a qualifying period which may be 30 years of contribution or employment, or 20 years of residence ; or
b. where, in principle, all economically active persons are protected, to a person protected who has completed a prescribed qualifying period of contribution and in respect of whom while he was of working age, the prescribed yearly average number of contributions has been paid.
2. Where the benefit referred to in paragraph 1 of this article is conditional upon a minimum period of contribution or employment, a reduced benefit shall be secured at least:
a. to a person protected who has completed, prior to the contingency, in accordance with prescribed rules, a qualifying period of 15 years of contribution or employment; or
b. where, in principle, all economically active persons are protected, to a person protected who has completed a prescribed qualifying period of contribution and in respect of whom, while he was of working age, half the yearly average number of contributions prescribed in accordance with paragraph 1.b of this Article has been paid.
3. The requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be deemed to be satisfied where a benefit calculated in conformity with the requirements of Part XI but at a percentage of ten points lower than shown in the Schedule appended to that Part for the standard beneficiary concerned is secured at least to a person protected who has completed, in accordance with prescribed rules, ten years of contribution or employment, or five years of residence.
4. A proportional reduction of the percentage indicated in the Schedule appended to Part XI may be effected where the qualifying period for the benefit corresponding to the reduced percentage exceeds ten years of contribution or employment but is less than 30 years of contribution or employment; if such qualifying period exceeds 15 years, a reduced benefit shall be payable in conformity with paragraph 2 of this Article.
5. Where the benefit referred to in paragraphs 1, 3 or 4 of this Article is conditional upon a minimum period of contribution or employment, a reduced benefit shall be payable under prescribed conditions to a person protected who, by reason only of his advanced age when the provisions concerned in the application of this Part come into force, has not satisfied the conditions prescribed in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, unless a benefit in conformity with the provisions of paragraphs 1, 3 or 4 of this Article is secured to such person at an age higher than the normal age.
Report Form of C102/ECSS: 1. Please indicate the nature and the length of the minimum qualifying period or the minimum average yearly number of contributions, as the case may be, which entitles the persons protected to a pension. Please summarize the rules concerning the computation of such qualifying period. Please state whether recourse is had to paragraphs 1 and 2 or paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article. 2. If recourse is had to paragraphs 1 and 2 the benefit the amount of which is shown under Article 28 should be the benefit granted during the time basis to a standard beneficiary who has completed 30 years of contribution or employment, or 20 years of residence. Please indicate, under this Article, how the reduced benefit is calculated to which a standard beneficiary is entitled who has completed a qualifying period of 15 years of contribution or employment or in respect of whom half the yearly average number of contributions prescribed for title to full benefit has been paid. 3. If recourse is had to paragraph 3 the benefit the amount of which is shown under Article 28 should be the benefit granted during the time basis to a standard beneficiary who has completed ten years of contribution or employment or five years of residence. |
Entitlement to public old-age pension is acquired on the basis of residence in Denmark and is thus not conditional on payment of contributions or of periods of employment completed in Denmark.
Pension entitlement is subject topermanent residence in Denmark for a period of no less than three years betweenthe age of 15 and the pension age.
Article 30. C102 and ECSS
The benefits specified in Articles 28 and 29 shall be granted throughout the contingency.
Article 69, C102/ Article 68, ECSS
A benefit to which a person protected would otherwise be entitled in compliance with any of Parts II to X of this Convention may be suspended to such extent as may be prescribed:
a. as long as the person concerned is absent from the territory of the Member;
b. as long as the person concerned is maintained at public expense, or at the expense of a social security institution or service, subject to any portion of the benefit in excess of the value of such maintenance being granted to the dependants of the beneficiary;
c. as long as the person concerned is in receipt of another social security cash benefit, other than a family benefit, and during any period in respect of which he is indemnified for the contingency by a third party, subject to the part of the benefit which is suspended not exceeding the other benefit or the indemnity by a third party;
d. where the person concerned has made a fraudulent claim;
e. where the contingency has been caused by a criminal offence committed by the person concerned;
f. where the contingency has been caused by the wilful misconduct of the person concerned;
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please indicate the provisions, if any, for the suspension of old-age benefits. |
The basic amount of social pension is only exportable if:
- the pensioner is a Danish citizen over 65 who has been permanently resident in Denmark for a period of not less than 30 years between the age of 15 and 65.
- the pensioner is a Danish citizen who takes up residence in another country after having been granted a pension and has been permanently resident in Denmark for a period of not less than 10 years after the age of 15. The condition as to residence must have been complied with on the date on which the applicant attained the age of 65.
- the pensioner is a EU-citizen and covered by the Regulation (EC) 883/04, which lays down the rules according to which a person with residence in one EU-country may receive pension from another EU-country. These rules substitute the requirements of the Danish Pensions Act regarding Danish nationality and residence in Denmark.
In other cases pension will not be payable abroad unless otherwise is provided in a bilateral or multilateral agreement on social security.
§1§3. Article 70. C102, Article 69. ECSS
1. Every claimant shall have a right of appeal in case of refusal of the benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity.
3. Where a claim is settled by a special tribunal established to deal with social security questions and on which the persons protected are represented, no right of appeal shall be required.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please state whether every claimant has a right of appeal in case of refusal of old-age benefit or complaint as to its quality or quantity, as stipulated in paragraph 1 of this Article. Please summarize the rules which apply in the case of an appeal. |
Decisions on old age benefits under the legislation are made by the Udbetaling Danmark and may be brought before The National Board of Appeal.
See under Part XIII-3
The Danish authority (Udbetaling Danmark) is in charge of the administration and defrayal. The expenses are reimbursed via the Central Government budget and financed through general taxation.
Part VI. Employment Injury Benefit
Denmark has accepted the obligations resulting from C12, C42, Part VI of C102 and Part VI of the ECSS.
Category |
Relevant Articles |
Questions raised by the CEACR |
VI-1. Regulatory framework |
Art.31 ECSS/C102 Art. 1 C12, Art 1 C42 |
|
VI-2. Contingency covered |
Art.32 ECSS/C102 |
|
VI-3. List of Occupational Diseases |
Art.2 C42 |
|
VI-4. Persons Protected |
Art.33 C102/ECSS |
|
VI-5. Medical Care and allied benefits |
Art.34 C102/ECSS |
|
VI-6. Prevention, rehabilitation and placement services |
Art.35 C102/ECSS |
|
VI – 7. Temporary or initial incapacity for work |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
|
VI – 8. Total loss of earning capacity |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
|
VI – 9. Partial loss of earning capacity |
Art.36(2) C102/ECSS |
|
VI – 10. Death of the breadwinner: periodical payment |
Art.36(1) C102/ECSS |
|
VI – 11. Lump-sum payment |
Art.36(3) C102/ECSS |
|
VI-12. Adjustment of Benefit |
Art.65(10) C102/ECSS or Art.66(8) C102/ECSS |
|
VI-13. Qualifying conditions |
Art.37 C102/ECSS |
|
VI-14. Duration of Benefit |
Art.38 C102/ECSS |
|
VI-15. Suspension of Benefit |
Art.69 C102, Art.68 ECSS |
|
VI-16. Right of complaint and appeal |
Art.70 C102, Art.69 ECSS |
|
VI-17. Financing and Administration |
Art.71,72 C102 Art.70,71 ECSS |
List of applicable legislation
Consolidated Act No. 376 of March 31, 2020 as amended by Act No. 2200 of December 29, 2020
Administrative Orders:
VI - 1. Regulatory framework
Article 1. C12
Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention undertakes to extend to all agricultural wage-earners its laws and regulations which provide for the compensation of workers for personal injury by accident arising out of or in the course of their employment.
Reference is made to the general description of the Danish industrial injuries insurance system after 1 January 2004 contained in the report on Convention No.102 (Minimum Standards).
The Danish rules concerning industrial injuries insurance apply to industrial injuries in all occupations, including agriculture. Any person who work in a paid employment relationship or as an unpaid assistant in the service of an employer, and who carries out permanent, temporary, or casual work in Denmark, is insured in the event of an industrial injury. Additionally, children suffering from an injury caused during pregnancy due to the work of their mothers are insured. Any employer who employs persons entitled to be covered under the insurance scheme, is liable to take out insurance.
Article 1. C42
1. Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention undertakes to provide that compensation shall be payable to workmen incapacitated by occupational diseases, or, in case of death from such diseases, to their dependants, in accordance with the general principles of the national legislation relating to compensation for industrial accidents.
2. The rates of such compensation shall be not less than those prescribed by the national legislation for injury resulting from industrial accidents. Subject to this provision, each Member, in determining in its national law or regulations the conditions under which compensation for the said diseases shall be payable, and in applying to the said diseases its legislation in regard to compensation for industrial accidents, may make such modifications and adaptations as it thinks expedient.
Reference is made to the general description of the Danish industrial injuries insurance system after 1 January 2004 contained in the report on Convention No.102 (Minimum Standards).
Article 31. ECSS
Each Member (Contracting Party) for which this Part of this Convention (Code) is in force shall secure to the persons protected the provision of employment injury benefit in accordance with the following Articles of this Part.
VI - 2. Contingencies covered
Article 32. C102/ECSS
The contingencies covered shall include the following where [the state of affairs described is – ECSS] due to accident or a prescribed disease resulting from employment:
a. a morbid condition;
b. incapacity for work resulting from such a condition and involving suspension of earnings, as defined by national laws or regulations;
c. total loss of earning capacity or partial loss thereof in excess of a prescribed degree, likely to be permanent, or corresponding loss of faculty; and
d. the loss of support suffered by the widow or child as the result of the death of the breadwinner; in the case of a widow, the right to benefit may be made conditional on her being presumed, in accordance with national laws or regulations, to be incapable of self‑support.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state whether national laws or regulations prescribe a minimum degree of loss of earning capacity that gives rise to the medical care benefits (Article 34) and cash benefits in case of temporary incapacity and permanent incapacity (Article 36), and, if so, indicate the degree. 2. Please also state whether recourse is had to the last sentence of subparagraph (d) of Article 32, according to which, in the case of the widow, the right to benefit may be made conditional on her being presumed to be incapable of self-support, if so, please specify the rules. |
1. Medical care benefits can be paid regardless of the degree of loss of earning capacity when the injury is recognized as an industrial injury. Compensation for the loss of earning capacity is to be paid if the loss of earning capacity is 15 per cent or more.
2. Compensation for the loss of a breadwinner is granted to the spouse or cohabiting partner as monthly payments for a period of up to ten years. Denmark recognizes the fact that the contingency might be longer than ten years if the spouse or cohabiting partner is incapable of self-support. Therefore, the Danish Workers’ Compensation system provides the possibility to extend the duration of compensation for the loss of the breadwinner beyond ten years.
VI – 3. List of Occupational Diseases
Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention undertakes to consider as occupational diseases those diseases and poisonings produced by the substances set forth in the Schedule appended hereto, when such diseases or such poisonings affect workers engaged in the trades, industries or processes placed opposite in the said Schedule, and result from occupation in an undertaking covered by the said national legislation.
List of diseases and toxic substances |
List of corresponding trades, industries and processes |
Poisoning by lead, its alloys or compounds and their sequelae. |
§ Handling of ore containing lead, including fine shot in zinc factories. § Casting of old zinc and lead in ingots. § Manufacture of articles made of cast lead or of lead alloys. § Employment in the polygraphic industries. § Manufacture of lead compounds. § Manufacture and repair of electric accumulators. § Preparation and use of enamels containing lead. § Polishing by means of lead files or putty powder with a lead content. § All painting operations involving the preparation and manipulation of coating substances, cements or colouring substances containing lead pigments. |
Poisoning by mercury, its amalgams and compounds and their sequelae. |
§ Handling of mercury ore. § Manufacture of mercury compounds. § Manufacture of measuring and laboratory apparatus. § Preparation of raw material for the hat making industry. § Hot gilding. § Use of mercury pumps in the manufacture of incandescent lamps. § Manufacture of fulminate of mercury primers. |
Anthrax infection. |
§ Work in connection with animals infected with anthrax. § Handling of animals carcasses or parts of such carcasses including hides, hoofs and horns. § Loading and unloading or transport of merchandise. |
Silicosis with or without pulmonary tuberculosis, provided that silicosis is an essential factor in causing the resultant incapacity or death. |
Industries or processes recognised by national law or regulations as involving exposure to the risk of silicosis. |
Phosphorous poisoning by phosphorous or its compounds, and its sequelae. |
Any process involving the production, liberation or utilisation of phosphorous or its compounds. |
Arsenic poisoning by arsenic or its compounds, and its sequelae. |
Any process involving the production, liberation or utilisation of arsenic or its compounds. |
Poisoning by benzene or its homologues, their nitro- and amido-derivatives, and its sequelae. |
Any process involving the production, liberation or utilisation of bezene or its homologues, or their nitro- or amido-derivatives. |
Poisoning by the halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons of the aliphatic series. |
Any process involving the production, liberation or utilisation of halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons of the aliphatic series designated by nationals laws or regulations. |
Pathological manifestations due to: § a) radium and other radioactive substances; § b) X-rays. |
Any process involving exposure to the action of radium, radioactive substances, or X-rays. |
Primary epitheliomatous cancer of the skin. |
Any process involving the handling or use of tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, paraffin, or the compounds, products or residues of these substances. |
Occupational diseases qualify for compensation in the same way and with the same benefits and amounts as work accidents. Compensation claims are dealt with on the basis of the European mixed system, which entails a list of diseases and a possibility for recognition as an occupational disease on an individual basis by the Occupational Diseases Committee.
The list of occupational diseases is a list of work-related diseases, which are recognised as industrial injuries if a person has suffered certain exposures in the workplace.
The list is constantly updated so that it covers the most recent research. The update is executed by the Occupational Diseases Committee composed of representatives from i.e. the Danish Health Authority, the Working Environment Authority, and the social partners. When there is adequate medical documentation that a disease is caused by a certain exposure, the disease is included on the list of occupational diseases.
Even if a reported disease does not qualify for recognition on the basis of the list, it might still be recognized if the Occupational Diseases Committee finds that it is likely, beyond reasonable doubt that the disease was caused by the working conditions.
VI - 4. Persons protected
Article 33. C102/ECSS
The persons protected shall comprise prescribed classes of employees, constituting not less than 50 per cent of all employees, and, for benefit in respect of death of the breadwinner, also their wives and children.
Report form for C102/ECSS: Please provide for statistical data: Title I under Article 76 for Article 33 of C102/ECSS
i) under general scheme … ii) under special schemes (if any) … iii) Total … b. Total number of employees[27] … c. Number of employees protected (A(iii)) per cent of total number of employees (B). Please state how these data are computed and give dates of reference. |
Title 1:
a. i) 2.8 million.
ii) -
iii) 2.8 million.
b. 2.8 million. [28]
c. 100 per cent
VI - 5. Medical Care and allied benefits
Article 34. ECSS
1. In respect of a morbid condition, the benefit shall be medical care as specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article.
2. The medical care shall comprise:
a. general practitioner and specialist in‑patient care and out‑patient care, including domiciliary visiting;
b. dental care;
c. nursing care at home or in hospital or other medical institutions;
d. maintenance in hospitals, convalescent homes, sanatoria or other medical institutions;
e. dental, pharmaceutical and other medical or surgical supplies, including prosthetic appliances, kept in repair, and eyeglasses; and
f. the care furnished by members of such other professions as may at any time be legally recognised as allied to the medical profession, under the supervision of a medical or dental practitioner.
3. [4 – C102]. The medical care provided in accordance with the preceding paragraphs shall be afforded with a view to maintaining, restoring or improving the health of the person protected and his ability to work and to attend to his personal needs.
Draft Resolution CM/ResCSS(2021) ….
on the application of the European Code of Social Security
by Denmark
(Period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020)
a. with regard to Article 34(2)(e) of the Code, Pharmaceutical supplies without co-payment, the Committee of Ministers notes from the information provided by the Government that medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies purchased by a patient are subject to a partial reimbursement scheme which also provides, to some extent, for co-payments of the patient concerned. The Committee of Ministers recalls, however, that Article 34(2) of the Code does not permit such cost-sharing for medical care including dental, pharmaceutical, and other medical or surgical supplies in case of employment injury;
Decides to invite the Government of Denmark:
a. with regard to Article 34(2)(e) of the Code, pharmaceutical supplies without co-payment, to indicate in the next report whether the same rules concerning cost-sharing apply to medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies provided to victims of employment injury or whether in such cases, these are provided free of charge;
Please provide a reply to the question: Any person with legal residence in Denmark is entitled to medical care according to their needs. This also applies in the event of an industrial injury. Usually, the benefit will be granted by the National Health Security in form of free medical attention, hospital treatment, etc., cf. Part II and Part III. With regard to its coverage, the Workers’ Compensation Act states that costs of medical care or rehabilitation, which is required to obtain the best possible cure, will be defrayed to the extent that such costs are not covered under the Health Act or as an element of treatment in a public hospital. That means that compensation for all expenses incidental to medical care and rehabilitation, not payable by the National Health Security, will be paid by the employment injury insurance. As a consequence of this rule, an injured person is entitled to compensation for the costs of medical care to the extent stated in Paragraph 2 of Article 34. Either direct payment will be made on the part of the insurance company, or the injured person will pay for the benefit subject to full reimbursement. Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please indicate in detail the nature of the medical benefits provided, referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 34. There are no restrictions on the type of medical treatment (medicine, prosthesis, dental treatment, spectacles, etc.) that can be covered under the Workers' Compensation Act, provided that the expense is incurred as a result of the work injury and that the treatment is deemed necessary for the best possible cure. 2. Please state what measures are taken to give effect to paragraph 4 of Article 34 of the ECSS (paragraph 3 of C102). There are no rules in the Workers' Compensation Act on maintaining, restoring, or improving the health of injured persons. The responsibility for treatment and rehabilitation is in Denmark with the public health service. Reference is made to Part II and Part III. |
VI – 6. Prevention, rehabilitation and placement services
Article 35. C102/ECSS
1. The institutions or Government departments administering the medical care shall co-operate, wherever appropriate, with the general vocational rehabilitation services, with a view to the re-establishment of handicapped persons in suitable work.
2. National laws or regulations may authorize such institutions or departments to ensure provision for the vocational rehabilitation of handicapped persons.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state briefly what measures are taken to give effect to the provisions of this Article. Please see the answer to paragraph 4 of Article 34 of the ECSS (paragraph 3 of C102) above. |
VI – 7. Temporary or initial incapacity for work
§1. Article 36. C102/ECSS
In respect of incapacity for work, total loss of earning capacity likely to be permanent or corresponding loss of faculty, or the death of the breadwinner, the benefit shall be a periodical payment calculated in such a manner as to comply either with the requirements of Article 65 or with the requirements of Article 66.
In cases of temporary or initial incapacity for work - whether this is due to an occupational injury or another reason - sickness benefit is granted under the general sickness benefit scheme and ensures financial protection. Only permanent loss of earning capacity as a consequence of the industrial injury is covered by the Danish rules concerning industrial injuries insurance. Please see Part III for further information.
Report form for C102/ECSS: 1. Please state whether recourse is had, under paragraph 1 of this Article, to the provisions of Article 65 or to those of Article 66, for the calculation of the benefit. 2. Please furnish information under this Article as follows: a. if recourse is had to Article 65 of C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 65 below; b. if recourse is had to Article 66 C102/ECSS, in the form set out in Titles I, II and V under Article 66 below. For Article 65 of C102/ECSS Title I (Information on the standard wage) A. Please summarize the rules for the calculation of the benefit and the computation of the previous earnings. Please state whether recourse is had to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 65 and, if so, please indicate the maximum amount prescribed for the benefit or for the earnings taken into account for the computation of the benefit. B. Please state to which of the provisions of paragraph 6 of Article 65 you have recourse for selecting the skilled manual male employee to whose wage paragraph 3 of Article 65 refers. Please specify more particularly: a. if recourse is had to subparagraph (b) of paragraph 6: i. how the division and the major group of economic activity to which the typical skilled employee belongs are determined with reference to paragraph 7; and ii. how the typical skilled employee in the major group is chosen; or b. if recourse is had to subparagraph (c) of paragraph 6, how the earnings of all persons protected are computed; or c. if recourse is had to subparagraph (d) of paragraph 6, how the average earnings of all the persons protected are computed. C. Please indicate, in any event, the time basis on which the wage of the typical skilled employee is calculated, with reference to the provisions of paragraph 9 of Article 65. Please confirm that, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of that Article, the same time basis is used for calculating the benefit and the family allowances. Please indicate the amount of the wage of the skilled manual male employee selected as shown under B (standard wage). Title II (Information on the replacement rate of benefit) The standard beneficiary for whom the following information should be given is a man with a wife and two children where the previous earnings serving for the calculation of the benefit are equal to the wage of the skilled manual male employee shown in Title I above. D. Amount of benefit granted during the time basis. E. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during employment for a period equal to the time basis. F. Amount of family allowances, if any, payable during the contingency for a period equal to the time basis. |