Social security if you work in Denmark

What is social security?

Social security determines which country is responsible for benefits such as:

• sickness benefit
• parental benefit
• child benefit
• disability benefits
• pensions

If you live and work in Sweden, you are normally covered by the Swedish social security system.

If you start working in or move to Denmark, the country responsible for your social security may change.

Social security when working in Denmark

If you start working in Denmark, you will usually be covered by the Danish social security system.

If you live in Sweden, you should notify The Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan that you have started working in Denmark.

As a cross-border commuter, you can choose whether to receive healthcare in Denmark or Sweden.

Unlike Sweden, Denmark does not have one single authority responsible for social security. Instead, responsibility is shared between your employer, your municipality and Udbetaling Danmark, depending on the benefit.

If you work in both Denmark and Sweden, different social security rules may apply.

See our page about social security when working in Denmark and Sweden

If you stop working in Denmark

If you stop working in Denmark, you will normally become covered by the Swedish social security system again.

If you apply for benefits in Sweden, Försäkringskassan will assess whether you are covered by the Swedish social security system before paying any benefits.

You do not need to contact Försäkringskassan unless:

• you are applying for benefits, or
• you have children under the age of 16

If you have received child benefit from Denmark, you should also notify Udbetaling Danmark.

Contact Udbetaling Danmark

Protect your Swedish SGI

When you start working in Denmark, you are normally covered by the Danish social security system. This means that you are no longer covered by the Swedish system for sickness benefit, parental benefit and other work-related benefits.

If you later stop working in Denmark and return to the Swedish social security system, your Danish income cannot normally be used to establish your Swedish sickness benefit qualifying income (SGI).

Without an SGI, you are not entitled to income-based benefits in Sweden, such as sickness benefit or income-based parental benefit.

Read about Swedish social insurance at Försäkringskassan 

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Join a Danish a-kasse to protect your SGI

If you join a Danish unemployment insurance fund, a-kasse, while working in Denmark, you can transfer your membership to a Swedish unemployment insurance fund, a-kassa, when your employment ends.

If you are then granted unemployment benefit in Sweden, your Danish income can be included when your SGI is calculated.

See our page about Danish a-kasser

Avoid gaps in your social security cover

In some situations, you may risk falling between the Danish and Swedish social security systems.

Joining a Danish a-kasse while working in Denmark can help protect your Swedish SGI. However, there are still situations where you may not be entitled to income-based benefits.

Examples

If you lose your job during pregnancy

If you are pregnant and working in Denmark but are not a member of a Danish a-kasse, you may not be entitled to parental benefit in Denmark or to income-based parental benefit in Sweden if you lose your job.

Joining a Danish a-kasse allows you to transfer your membership to a Swedish a-kassa, receive Swedish unemployment benefit and establish an SGI based on your Danish income.

If you become long-term sick

If you become long-term sick and your entitlement to Danish sickness benefit ends, you will normally become covered by the Swedish social security system because you live in Sweden.

However, your previous Danish income cannot normally be used to establish an SGI, which may affect your entitlement to Swedish sickness benefit.

If you have been a member of a Danish a-kasse, you can transfer your membership to a Swedish a-kassa. However, to receive unemployment benefit you must be available for work, and you are normally not considered available if you are ill. In that situation, you may not be entitled to benefits.

See our page about joining a Danish a-kasse

Who to contact

The country where you are covered by social insurance can have a significant impact on your benefits and financial situation.

Depending on your situation, you can find more information here:

• Find out which country's social insurance system applies at Försäkringskassan
  
  
• Contact Udbetaling Danmark about Danish social insurance
  
  
• Contact Udbetaling Danmark about family benefits
  
  
• your Danish a-kasse if you have questions about unemployment insurance.