Parental allowance for parental leave when working in Denmark
The right to parental allowance - barselsdagpenge
Maternity benefit or parental allowance is in Danish called "barselsdagpenge". It is paid to give you an income during pregnancy, or in conjunction with birth or adoption. The authority "Udbetaling Danmark" decides whether you are eligible for barselsdagpenge. The requirement is that you have been on the Danish labour market for at least 13 weeks and during that period have worked for at least 120 hours (you can be credited for time in Sweden if you have not yet worked in Denmark for 13 weeks).
New rules as of July 1st, 2018
Please note that new rules apply for your entitlement to parental allowance during parental leave as of July 1st, 2018.
- You must be employed by the day before or on the first day of your parental leave.
- You should have worked for at least 160 hours in the last four full months before your parental leave.
- You must have worked for at least 40 hours a month for at least three of the four months.
Udbetaling Danmark automatically receives this information from your employer.
According to the Danish rules, you have the right to take leave and receive parental benefit from 4 weeks before you are expected to give birth. Please note that these 4 weeks cannot be utilized after the birth. In some cases it is possible to start maternity leave even earlier than this, for example if your work involves risks for you or your baby during pregnancy. After the birth of the child, the mother is eligible to take 14 weeks of maternity leave. The father have the right to take 2 weeks together with the mother during the first 14 weeks since the child was born. After this period, both parents are able to share the 32 remaining weeks. The latter is subject to both parents working in Denmark.
Agreements affect parental allowance amounts in Denmark
The precise conditions that apply to you depend on the agreement at your workplace and in your employment contract. In some cases, the employer pays your full salary during the whole or parts of your parental leave. If this is not the case, you have the right to an allowance and should contact Udbetaling Danmark. Check with your employer to find out what applies in your workplace.
Amount when you have the right to Danish parental allowance
The allowance during parental leave is calculated as an amount per week. The amount depends on how much you work. There may also be agreements in your workplace, which give you the right to your salary during parental leave. Therefore it is important to check with your employer to see what applies in your case.
Contact Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency) at Øresunddirekt's Informationcenter in Malmö.
