Are you comprised by the Danish social security rules?

The Danish Social Security System consists of services and benefits that provide economic security such as health insurance, family benefits, sickness and maternity benefits, pension, unemployment benefits, ATP (Danish labor market supplementary pension) and industrial injury insurance.

When deciding whether a person staying in Denmark, can get social benefits, its relevant to see on two different groups of individuals:

Nationals of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and persons covered by the Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the EU and the United Kingdom
Nationals of non-EU countries

Only for non-EU Nationals

Even though Regulation (EU) No 1231/2010 Since 1 January 2011 have extended the social security cover in EU to nationals of non-EU countries (third-country nationals and family members) legally resident in the EU and in a cross-border situation, its important to mention that this does not apply to Denmark. So as a non-EU nationl coming to Denmark from another EU-country you are not covered by danish social security according to the EU-rules.

If you are a non-EU National who have been granted a permit by SIRI, you must be able to support yourself during your stay. For example, you are not allowed to receive benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act.

If you are registered with CPR, you have access to Public Health services in Denmark.
Whether you are covered by other social benefits, depends on whether you can meet the requirements for being eligible for the specific benefit.
You can find more information about the requirements for the different services and benefits on lifeindenmark.dk.

Unemployment Insurance benefits ("dagpenge") is not a benefit paid out according to the Active Social Policy Act,
So a non-EU national can be eligible for "dagpenge" - but especially for non-EU nationals it can be difficult to meet the requirement saying that a person can only get dagpenge if he/she can take any full-time work with one day notice. It depends on what kind of residence and work permit you have.

A British citizen moving to Denmark after 31 December 2020 is a Non-EU National in relation to the right to social benefits in Denmark.

Only for EU-nationals

For EU-nationals its often easier to get access to the social benefits in Denmark (compared to a non-EU citizen). This is due to the EU coordination regulation regarding social security rights for EU citizens who move between the Member States.
One of the principles in the regulation is "Aggregation". This principle guarantees that previous periods of insurance, work or residence in other countries are taken into account in the calculation of benefits.

Secondly, EU-citizens do not need work-permit to be able to work in Denmark, and in that way the conditions that apply to work-permits for non-EU-citizens, for example that you must not receive any benefits according to the Active Social Policy Act, does not count EU-citizens.

However is it important to know as EU-citizen that the rules on social security coordination do not replace national systems with a single European one. All countries are free to decide who is to be insured under their legislation, which benefits are granted and under what conditions.

So also EU-citizens need to meet the requirements for each specific social benefit, read more at lifeindenmark.dk.

In which EU-country an EU-national is covered by social security depends on:

your work situation (employed, self-employed, unemployed, posted abroad, working across the border from where you live, and so on)
country of residence. This is the country where you usually live or where your "centre of interest" is located - not your nationality.

When working or living abroad, you will have social security cover by either your home country or the host country, but always only one of the countries. The decision on which country's legislation applies to you will be made by the social security institutions. You cannot choose your self in which country to be covered.
We recommend that you try to contact your municipality of residence or Udbetaling Denmark to get guidance/information about the process.

If you are unemployed and come to Denmark to look for job please see this article about Social security cover abroad.

If you are student in Denmark and soon will graduate, you should know that the completed education in it self can give you right to receive Unemployment benefits. Please read our special sections/guidance here:
See our guide for students.
See our guide for graduates.

A British citizen residing or working in Denmark before 31 December 2020 is an EU citizen in relation to the right to social benefits in Denmark.

Examples for working EU-nationals

You only work in Denmark
The point of departure is that a person who physically exclusively performs his/her job functions in Denmark is comprised by Danish social security rules. This is the case regardless of whether you live in another EU Member State, whether the employer is domiciled in another EU Member State or where tax is paid.

You should register with the social security system in Denmark. This means:
- apply for EU residence document
- You must present your EU residence document to your municipality of residence to be given a CPR number (and health insurance card and the like)

With a CPR-number you will also be able to become member in an A-kasse.

You work in Denmark, but return to your EU-home country at least once a week
In this situation you are a cross-border worker. You will still be covered by danish social security rules, however regarding Unemployment benefits special rules apply.
You must be a member of a danish A-kasse, but in case of unemployment you should register with the employment services and claim unemployment benefits in your country of residence.
You may transfer your periods of employment and unemployment insurance from Denmark to the other EEA country.

You are posted to Denmark
If you are sent by your employer (or yourself, if you are self-employed) to work in Denmark for a maximum of 24 months, you will remain insured in your country of origin.

You work in more than one EU-country
If you work in both Denmark and your country of residence, you will keep social security in your country of residence, if you perform at least 25% of your working activity in your country of residence.
This also means that if you live in Demark and work in several EU/EEA countries or Switzerland and 25 percent of you work is performed in Denmark, then you are covered by Danish Social Security.
If you work in two countries, you should contact the relevant authority in your country of residence for a clarification of where you have social security.

Special cases where you live in Denmark, but work in more than one EU-country:

If you...	You are covered...
are employed but have no substantial activity in Denmark	where your employer's head office or business is located
work for two employers with head offices in different countries, one in Denmark and one outside Denmark but have no substantial activity in Denmark	where your employer's head office or place of business is located outside Denmark
work for two employers with head offices in different countries outside Denmark but have no substantial activity in Denmark	in Denmark
Work for one or several Danish employers but have no substantial activity in Denmark	in Denmark
are self-employed and have no substantial activity in Denmark	where the centre of interest of your activities is located
are employed in one country and carry out self-employed work in another	in the country where you are employed

If you do not live in Denmark and work in more than one EU-country:

If you...	You are covered...
are only employed by a Danish employer, but have no substantial activity in Denmark	in Denmark
are employed by a Danish employer but have another job with another employer in your country of residence, and have no substantial activity in Denmark	in Denmark

PD A1 document

A "PD A1 document" can be used to prove that you are covered by social security in Denmark or another EU-country.

PD A1 document is issued by the social security institution in the EU country where you recide. In Denmark this is "Udbetaling Danmark".

If you have a PD A1 document saying that you pay social contributions in Denmark, it also means that a danish A-kasse are obliged to accept you as member in the A-kasse.

Contact: Udbetaling Danmark, Social security cover

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Main topics about A-kasse

Transferring periods of work and insurance from another EEA CountryAs an EU citizen you can transfer acquired rights from Unemployment Insurance between EU contries. Be aware that there are some requirements and deadlines that are important to meet. And you have to use a PD U1 Form. Read more here..

Transferring unemployment benefitsUnder certain conditions you can go to another EU country to look for work and continue to receive your unemployment benefits from the country where you became unemployed. And you have to use a PD U2 Form. Read more here..

Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge")Remember you have to be member of an A-kasse for 1 year before you can claim Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge"). And you must meet the income-requirement. Read more here..

International graduatesGraduates in Denmark can get Unemployment benefits from the first day after graduation, if they have been member as student of an A-kasse for at least 1 year. Read more...

Residence CardIf you are a non-EU citizen you must have a residence Card which allows you to take any job with one day notice. This is because you must be available for the labor market for being eligible for unemployment benefits ("dagpenge").

Membership fee and taxYou will automatically get a deduction in your tax for your fee to the A-kasse and trade union. There is no ceiling on the amount you can get a deduction for when it comes to contributions to A-kasse, whereas you can get a maximum deduction of DKK 6,000 for a trade union.

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