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What can you get – where do you apply – and how long may the municipality take?

Many people don't get the help they are entitled to – because nobody told them about it. Here are the common public benefits and the everyday support the municipality can give – also if you have a mental illness. The municipality must advise you and look at all the options you may be entitled to when you apply. Amounts are before tax. Rates and rules checked 25 October 2026.

How to apply – and your rights while you wait

Money to live on

Cash benefit (kontanthjælp)

If you can't support yourself after e.g. illness, unemployment or a break-up. 2026 per month: higher rate DKK 13,060 (age 30+), basic rate DKK 7,529 (under 30), minimum rate DKK 7,095, under 30 living with parents: DKK 3,057. Supplements: DKK 2,909 per child, DKK 1,141 for single people without children. Savings under DKK 16,200 (32,400 for couples) don't count. Normally requires 9 years of residence within the last 10. Apply: register on jobnet.dk and apply on borger.dk. Typical deadline: 2–3 weeks (Aarhus 2, Copenhagen 3).

Sickness benefit (sygedagpenge)

If you are ill and can't work. At most DKK 5,085 a week (DKK 137.43 an hour) from 5 January 2026. If you are employed, your employer pays the first weeks. From 1 July 2026, sick-listed people with a job to return to and under 26 weeks' absence are usually exempt from meetings.

Unemployment benefit (a-kasse)

Requires membership of an unemployment fund. At most DKK 22,041 a month for full-time insured in 2026. Apply to your a-kasse.

Unemployment allowance and flex job

A flex job is a job with fewer hours and a wage subsidy if your work capacity is permanently reduced. While you wait for a flex job, you can get unemployment allowance. The municipality decides. Deadlines vary a lot: Aarhus 4 weeks, Copenhagen 26 weeks once the case is ready.

Pension

Disability pension (førtidspension)

If your work capacity is permanently reduced so you can't support yourself – not even in a flex job. 2026: DKK 22,053 a month for single people, DKK 18,745 for married/cohabiting. The municipality decides based on e.g. health, education and experience, and must get medical advice. Deadline in e.g. Aarhus and Copenhagen: 3 months from when the case is ready for a decision – the process before can take much longer.

Senior pension and early pension

Senior pension: if you are at most 6 years from state pension age, have a long work history and can work at most 15 hours a week compared to your latest job. Apply to Udbetaling Danmark (Senior pension: 70 15 15 00). Early pension: 1–3 years before state pension after 42–44 years in the labour market – at most DKK 22,053 (single) or DKK 18,745 (married) a month.

State pension and early retirement

State pension 2026: basic amount DKK 7,544 + full pension supplement DKK 8,729 (single) / DKK 4,467 (married) a month, and senior cheque up to DKK 26,900 a year. Early retirement (efterløn): up to DKK 22,041 a month (full-time, 100%).

Children and family

Child benefit (børnecheck)

Paid automatically. 2026 per child: age 0–2 DKK 5,370 per quarter, 3–6 DKK 4,248, 7–14 DKK 3,342, 15–17 DKK 1,114 a month. Requires at least 6 years of residence or work in Denmark within the last 10.

Child allowance and parental leave benefit

Child allowance (e.g. for single parents) is applied for at Udbetaling Danmark. Parental leave benefit: at most DKK 5,085 a week in 2026.

Housing and one-off help

Housing benefit (boligstøtte)

Tax-free subsidy towards rent if you rent a home with its own kitchen and live there permanently. Apply on borger.dk – Udbetaling Danmark pays. Remember to report income changes. From 1 July 2025 there is a new cap on housing benefit for people on cash benefit.

Help in special cases (one-off help)

The municipality can help with an unexpected expense you can't pay yourself (Active Social Policy Act s. 81), with medicine, dentist and treatment (s. 82) and with moving (s. 85). It depends on your finances. Deadlines: Aarhus 2 weeks, Copenhagen 4 weeks (2 weeks if you face eviction).

Compensation benefit (s. 100, formerly extra costs)

For adults with a permanently reduced physical or mental function who have extra costs because of it. Group I: at least DKK 6,960 a year in costs gives a fixed DKK 1,155 a month. Group II: over DKK 25,080 a year in certain costs gives coverage plus DKK 523 a month. Tax-free. Not if you get disability pension (with few exceptions). Apply on borger.dk. Deadlines: Aarhus 20 weeks, Copenhagen 10 weeks.

Everyday support – also with mental illness

This is support under the Social Services Act. It is given after an assessment of what you can and can't do – not by diagnosis. If you have e.g. anxiety, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism or an intellectual disability, you can apply. Apply to the municipality's social or disability department, and say as concretely as you can what is hard in everyday life.

SectionWhatWhat is it?Deadline (examples)
§ 83Personal and practical help and meal serviceHelp with e.g. washing, cleaning and shopping – and meals delivered to your door. Not only for older people: also with reduced physical or mental function. You can choose between the municipality's suppliers, and the municipality sets a maximum price per main meal.Aarhus 1 week
§ 85Socio-educational support (housing support)A regular support worker who helps you hold everyday life together: structure, mail and bills, appointments, getting out – in your own home.Copenhagen 10 weeks · Aarhus 16 weeks
§ 82 a–bSupport without applying firstMany municipalities have open advice, groups or short-term support you can get without a decision. Ask what your municipality offers.—
§ 99Support and contact person (SKP)Outreach support if you have a mental illness, addiction or are homeless – also if you can't seek help yourself.Copenhagen 1 week
§ 97Escort schemeUp to 15 hours a month with an escort if you can't get around alone outside.Copenhagen 4 weeks · Aarhus 6 weeks
§ 103–104Sheltered work and day centresA place to be and something to do – e.g. a drop-in, club or workshop.Copenhagen 6 weeks · Aarhus 10 weeks
§ 96BPACitizen-controlled personal assistance – you hire your own helpers. For very extensive needs.Copenhagen 10 weeks · Aarhus 20 weeks
§ 112–116Aids and home adaptationE.g. a wheelchair, cognitive aids or changes to your home.—
§ 110ShelterYou can turn up yourself.Same day

Supported housing (s. 107–108) is not listed on AnonKind. Treatment for alcohol and drugs must start within 14 days – see your rights.

How long does it take – and why is it so different?

Each municipality sets its own deadlines. So you can wait 10 weeks for housing support in one municipality and 16 weeks in another – for the same help. Examples from the municipalities' own lists:

WeeksKøbenhavnAarhus
Housing support (s. 85)1016
Compensation benefit (s. 100)1020
BPA (§ 96)1020
Escort (s. 97)46
Day centre / sheltered work (s. 103–104)610
Cash benefit32
One-off expenses (s. 81)42

And decisions are not always right: in 2024, 44.9% of the social-area complaints Ankestyrelsen decided ended with the municipality's decision being changed or sent back – in the adult disability area (e.g. BPA, escort and extra costs) 40.4%. You can see each municipality's figure in Ankestyrelsen's statistics portal. Ankestyrelsen's statistics portal

Your municipality: deadlines and contact

Deadlines are collected from the municipalities' own pages. Figures marked read automatically were found by a program – check them on the municipality's page. If your municipality is missing, search for “sagsbehandlingsfrister” on its website – they must be there.

New in 2026 – the employment reform

If it goes wrong

Sources

Rates and rules checked 25 October 2026. Guidance, not advice. Rates change every year on 1 January.