Your Social Benefits
– in Norway
Benefits in Norway, age 0-18
A reason many people feel relaxed and are able to take good care of their family in Norway is because the benefits in Norway are the insurance for the population to get support and care in times when they need special help.
When a person is growing up in Norway, their parents will get childcare money every month. The mother that is pregnant will get care and follow up care after her pregnancy for free. Both parents may take courses on how to make the best of a giving birth situation for free, there will be medical follow ups for the baby and even a visit at your home if you want to check everything is OK with the baby and that the feeding is going well – for free.
You may also, but as part of the advertisement from the baby care industries, be offered free start up kits for the baby.
As the baby grows older and becomes an infant, there are several offers provided for free. This includes dental care, vaccinations and all other hospital care. Of course, all education, 7 years of primary school, 3 years of secondary school and 3 years of high school/vocational school is free, and for the first 10 years there are free books, and the last 3 years are supported with non/low interest loans and scholarships.
Benefits in Norway, age 13-75
When you are working 10.2% of your salary will be allocated for the next year’s vacation, and in this way you can have paid vacation time.
When you are in work and have a child you may get a year off from work with 100% salary.
If you become ill you may take self-certified sickness leave for up to 3 days, with 100% salary, or for a longer period by getting a statement from your doctor that will also give you 100% salary for the time needed. If you need to get a new doctor we have provided links for this.
If you had a job and lost it, for a period of up to two years you will get 62.4% of your salary, up to 6G. The 1G value is corrected every May 1, and in 2015 1G was NOK 90,068. 6G is then NOK 540,408. This means if you lose a job that paid NOK 540,408 or more, you will get NOK 337,214/year or NOK 28,101/month when holding no job at all. Just make sure you apply for this the right way!
Benefits in Norway, in general
Some municipalities and banks also offer housing grants for those that may document a need for this.
After being in the Norwegian care system (National Insurance Scheme) as a worker, or receiving support, for 3 years you may get your pension from the age of 62. The lowest annual pension rate is NOK 139,728 – 274,085 (May 1, 2015). If you are older than 67 years, you may get a pension without having worked or having received any support.
Refugees who are members of the National Insurance Scheme are entitled to the minimum pension level without the provision of former support.
The main article will give you an overview of the Norwegian benefits and it explains what the benefits are, how to earn this right and what you may be offered.
You will also find extended guidance, links to applications and in depth information.
Information in motion
Pregnant in Norway
In this episode I will go through what we do on the first doctors appointment, and how to apply for the hospital, also a little on my hospital choice.
Time 5:13
Norway’s Health Care System
Comment: I’m from USA, Living in Norway! THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HERE IS LIGHTYEARS AHEAD OF THE USA!!!I I can’t say that enough! High quality, super cheap or free….beautiful facilities, nice friendly staff…it’s like a dream too good to be true…but it is TRUE
Time 2:58
Michael Moore in Norway
This didn’t make it into the film Sicko, 2007, but it’s well worth seeing. Michael Moore also visits a much more civilized conceptualization of what many think of as a ‘prison’. Given what we know about human behavior and criminology, prisons in many countries are a scientific and humanitarian embarrassment.
Time: 10:03
Contents of the full article
- Holidays
- Sickness benefits
- Parental benefits
- Retirement pension
- Free legal aid
- Financial support for foreign students
- Scholarships and endowments
- Housing grants
- Housing allowance
- Membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme
- About health services
- Self-certified sickness absence
- Sick leave
- Sickness benefit
- Exemption from the payment of patient charges
- Prenatal care
- Primary doctor (GP)
- Hospitals
- Medicine/pharmacies
- Preventive health services
- Physiotherapy
- Dental services
