Danish state pension and supplements

Last updated 2026-08-25

If you live in Sweden and have worked in Denmark, you may be entitled to Danish state pension. Find out how eligibility is determined, which supplements may be available and who to contact about your pension.

Two elderly women enjoying themselves having coffee at a cafe
Photo: Helena Wahlman/imagebank.sweden.se
 

Basic amount and supplements in the Danish state pension

The Danish state pension, folkepension, consists of a basic amount and a pension supplement. The amount you receive depends on your circumstances and income. You may also be able to apply for additional supplements:

  • Personal supplement – available if you are in a difficult financial situation. There are no fixed criteria for what constitutes a difficult financial situation. Your circumstances are assessed individually.

  • Health supplement, helbredstillæg – available to people in a particularly difficult financial situation for certain types of treatment and examinations, including dental care, chiropody, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment and psychological treatment.

  • Housing benefit – as a pensioner, you may be able to receive help with your housing costs. The conditions depend on the type of home you live in.

  • Heating allowance – available to people in a particularly difficult financial situation who need help with heating and hot water costs.

See our page about the Danish pension system


Calculate your Danish state pension at lifeindenmark.dk

 

Supplementary pension benefit

If you receive folkepension from Denmark you may also be entitled to a supplementary pension benefit, ældrecheck. It is available if your assets are below a certain limit.

If you live in Denmark, ældrecheck is paid automatically if you are eligible. If you live in Sweden, you must apply for ældrecheck through the Danish authority responsible for pension payments, Udbetaling Danmark.

 

Rules for receiving Danish state pension

If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you may be entitled to Danish folkepension even if you are not a Danish citizen. As a general rule, you must have earned pension rights for at least 3 years in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, including at least 1 year in Denmark.

The amount of Danish state pension you receive depends on how long you have earned pension rights in Denmark. If you are not entitled to a full pension, you may receive a reduced pension, known as a fractional pension.

Read about Danish state pension at lifeindenmark.dk

 

Questions about your Danish state pension?

Udbetaling Danmark pays folkepension, ældrecheck, heating allowance and housing benefit. Contact Udbetaling Danmark if you have questions about these benefits.

If you live in Denmark and have questions about the personal supplement or helbredstillæg, contact your municipality.

Contact Udbetaling Danmark, Pension

 

State pension for non-EU/EEA citizens

If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you may still be entitled to Danish folkepension for periods when you worked in Denmark. Different rules may apply depending on your circumstances.

Read about Danish state pension when living abroad at lifeindenmark.dk

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