Dansk Flygtningehjælp (The Danish Refugee Council) and Ældre Sagen (DaneAge Association) publish this booklet with the purpose of providing information about rights and possibilities for you as a senior citizen of Denmark. We have done it because we think more information is needed, and because we would like to draw your attention to the various activities for senior citizens arranged by Dansk Flygtningehjælp and Ældre Sagen.
The booklet deals with the following subjects:
You may not find an answer to all your questions about senior life in Denmark, but hopefully get an idea about your rights and possibilities.
If you need further advice, your local municipal authority can help you, or you can contact one of the advice centres listed in the end.
Dansk Flygtningehjælp and Ældre Sagen
(The booklet can be downloaded here as PDF)
An active everyday life
As a senior citizen you have many ways of staying healthy and maintain contact with others. Dansk Flygtningehjælp and Ældre Sagen are two individual organisations with long traditions of voluntary work, such as arranging various activities for senior citizens.
Dansk Flygtningehjælp
Dansk Flygtningehjælp is a private, humanitarian organisation, which amongst other things is working for successful integration of ethnic minorities in Denmark. Many volunteers are involved in this task - both Danish and volunteers with another background than Danish - spending their spare time in engaged and dedicated work for better integration of refugees all over the country.
Many people work as volunteers because they want to do something for others without being paid.
The groups of volunteers have organised their work, closely linked to Dansk Flygtningehjælp. There are many groups and each one of them arranges different activities. Normally, participation is free of charge.
"I wish there were some activities to make the day go faster. One day takes the next and it can be boring to sit all alone." Khalil, 73 years old.
Here are some examples of activities:
If you would like to be acquainted with activities available in your local area, please contact the local group of volunteers attached to Dansk Flygtningehjælp. All addresses are found on the homepage of Dansk Flygtningehjælp: www.flygtning.dk
ÆldreSagen
Ældre Sagen is a membership organisation, which aims at securing a better life for all senior citizens in Denmark, at the same time looking after their interests.
The voluntary work of Ældre Sagen is organised in local committees, in charge of activities on a local basis.
Activities for members
The membership activities vary according to the location in question. It is cheap to participate, but you have to be a member of the association.
You will find activities like:
Activities supporting you in your everyday life
In Ældre Sagen you will find activities with the purpose of supporting you in your everyday life if you find it difficult to get along.
All such activities are free and membership is not needed. It can be, for example:
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accompanying you to the bank
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shopping together with you
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going for a walk with you
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visiting you
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assisting you with keep-fit exercises at home
"It's wonderful to go for a walk. I get a lot of fresh air and keep up spirits. It's great if somebody comes along with you". Nadia, 62 years old.
If you want to know more about the activities arranged by Ældre Sagen in your local area, you can contact the local committee. You will find addresses and telephone numbers of the committees on the homepage of Ældre Sagen: our web-site or in the local telephone directory.
Activities for and with senior refugees and immigrants
Ældre Sagen and Dansk Flygtningehjælp have joined forces in implementing activities for and with senior refugees and immigrants. Here, you will get a chance to build a bridge between different cultures and to meet senior citizens with different ethnic background.
If you want to know more about the activities in your local area, you can contact the local committee of Ældre Sagen or the voluntary group of Dansk Flygtningehjælp.
On FINFO you will find a list of the ethnic associations in your area and you can contact them for further information about local activities arranged on a voluntary basis.
Pension and economy
State pension (Folkepension)
In Denmark you can apply for state pension, when you turn 65 years. If you are born before 1st July 1939 you will have to wait until you turn 67 years.
The municipalities administer the state pension and payment is not effected automatically. You have to apply, preferably a couple of months before your birthday, so your pension will be ready for you the day you turn 65/67 years.
Conditions for state pension
Normally, you will have to be a Danish citizen to be entitled to state pension, live here permanently and have resided in Denmark for at least 3 years between the age of 15 and 65/67 years.
If you are a refugee, you will automatically be entitled to the maximum state pension when you turn 65/67 years.
If you have not obtained Danish citizenship, you still have the possibility of getting Danish state pension, if the country you came from has a convention agreement with Denmark.
A convention agreement is a contract about pension, which Denmark has signed with a number of countries. It means that foreign nationals from convention countries are entitled to receive Danish state pension.
In 2003 Denmark has formal convention agreements with Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Croatia, Macedonia, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Slovenia, Turkey.
If you came from a country without a convention agreement with Denmark, you must have resided at least 10 years in Denmark and the last 5 years must be in the period up to the time where you turn 65/67 years.
Residency in Denmark essential
In order to be entitled to the maximum state pension you must have resided in Denmark minimum 40 years between the age of 15 and 65/67 years. Thus, it is only a matter of residency and there is no clause of having had a job in Denmark.
If you have resided in Denmark less than 40 years, your pension will be reduced - a so-called fraction pension. The amount will depend upon how many years you have resided in Denmark. If you e.g. have resided in Denmark for 12 years you will receive a fraction pension of 12/40 of the maximum state pension of 40/40.
Pension conditions by emigration
If you intend to emigrate and would like to take your state pension with you, you should consider the following points:
1. If you have obtained Danish citizenship and have resided minimum 10 years in Denmark after turning 15 years, you can take your pension with you. However, you will not be entitled to receive pension benefit (see point 3 below).
2. If you do not have Danish citizenship, it is advisable to check whether you came from a country having a convention agreement with Denmark. If so, you are entitled to take your basic pension with you. It means that you will lose your right to receive pension benefit (see point 3).
3. However, if you move to one of the Nordic countries, to an EU/EEA country, to Liechtenstein or to Switzerland, you are entitled to take your basic pension with you and receive pension benefit as well.
If you are a refugee and would like to emigrate and maintain your state pension, you should be aware that your pension will be recalculated, depending on how many years you resided in Denmark between the age of 15 and 65/67 years, before you got your state pension. This means that you will not be entitled to take the maximum state pension with you but only a reduced one (fraction pension).
The rules for emigrating and maintaining the state pension are complicated, therefore it is recommended to contact either the local municipality or Den Sociale Sikringsstyrelse (The National Social Security Agency) for detailed information.
Further information about your pension in case of emigration can be obtained at Den Sociale Sikringsstyrelse, (The National Social Security Agency) Landemærket 11, 1119 Copenhagen K, Telephone: 33 95 50 00.
Medical allowance (Medicintilskud)
The National Health Service is covering everybody holding a permanent residence in this country. The National Health Service provides you with subsidies for prescribed medicine. Therefore, you will not be entitled to subsidies for naturopathic medication, food supplements or non-prescription medicines.
When you buy your medicine at the pharmacy, the subsidy from the National Health Service is automatically deducted in the price.
Personal allowance (Personlige tillæg)
If you are on fraction pension and find it difficult to manage economically, you can apply for a personal allowance from your local municipality. A budget will be set up, taking income, expenses and assets into consideration.
If the authorities find that you are entitled to a personal allowance it will in some instances result in an accumulated payment, equivalent to maximum national pension. The amount paid as personal allowance can vary a lot from one municipality to the other.
Personal allowances will not be paid as a supplement to your state pension only, but can also be paid to you as an individual allowance if applied for.
If you are in a very difficult economical situation, you can also apply for an allowance for heating expenses - the so-called heating allowance.
You will have to apply yourself for both personal as well as heating allowance from your local municipality.
Health allowance (Helbredstillæg)
If your economical situation is very difficult and you face health problems, you can also apply for health allowance from your local municipality. Health allowance is granted for glasses, medication, dental treatment, chiropody, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and psychological support.
You will have to apply yourself for health allowances from your local municipality.
Housing allowance (Boligydelse)
If you receive state pension there is a possibility of receiving housing allowance as well. Such a housing allowance is an economical contribution to help you pay house rent.
The housing allowance will depend on your housing costs, the size of your home, the number of persons living there, and the total household income. If your personal assets go above a certain limit this will also influence the amount granted.
Your local municipality will calculate how much you will be entitled to receive as housing allowance.
You will have to apply yourself for housing allowance from your local municipality.
Help in everyday life
If it is difficult for you to manage your everyday life but you still want to live in your own home it is possible for you to ask for assistance from the local municipality.
Home help (Hjemmehjælp)
If you would like to live in your own home, but find it difficult to manage on your own, you can ask for home help. It could be help with taking a bath or getting dressed or help with practical things in the house - such as cleaning and washing - and shopping.
If you have a permanent need of home help it is free of charge. If your need is only temporary, you will have to pay a part of the home help yourself, depending upon your economical situation.
Medication at home (Hjemmesygeplejersken)
The district nurse can help you with nursing, medicine, support and guidance for you, as well as your family. A doctor will consider whether a visit in your home by the nurse is recommendable. It could be your own doctor, a doctor on duty or a hospital doctor.
A district nurse visit is free of charge.
Aid and/or modification in your home (Hjælpemidler og boligændringer)
The local municipality can grant a contribution to various physical aids. Such aid must be designed to ease your life at home if you have permanent physical problems. It could be many different things such as support stockings, wheelchair, washing bench, walking stick etc.
You can also have the possibility of getting help to modify your home, such as removal of doorsteps, fixing rails and handles, modification of toilet facilities etc.
The offer of aid and modification of your home is free of charge
If you think that you need aid or modification of your home you have to contact your local municipality.
Home visit (Hjemmebesøg)
All citizens of Denmark who have turned 75 years are entitled to receive an offer of having two annual home visits by an official from the local municipality.
The purpose of these visits are to discuss your everyday life as a senior citizen and to inform you about activities for senior citizens arranged by the municipality or associations in your local area. During the visit you can ask questions about home help, aid, modification of your home, senior citizen housing or any other question about life as a senior citizen of Denmark.
A letter informing about the offer of home visit will be sent to you when you have turned 75 years.
Senior housing
If you find it difficult to manage your everyday life in your present home you can apply to move into a senior housing scheme. There are different types of senior homes depending on needs in each individual case. In all types of senior housing schemes you will have to pay a deposit and rent and you will be entitled to receiving housing allowance like you would for any other type of residence.
Share housing schemes for senior citizens (Seniorbofællesskaber)
Many senior citizens would like to live together in share housing schemes because of the safe surroundings and a social community.
Share senior housing schemes are based on individual homes with rooms, kitchen, bathroom and one or more rooms to share and maybe communal areas. It can be based on non-profit block of flats, co-operative housing or freehold ownership.
If you live in a non-profit block of flats, dominated by family accommodation, you could encourage other residents to join you in a suggestion to the administrator of having one of the sections converted into shared accommodation and modified with senior living facilities. This would enable you to stay there when old and perhaps physically weaker.
lndependent living facilities (Selvstændige ældreboliger)
If your health is weakening, you are handicapped or the way your home is arranged makes it difficult for you to carry out your daily duties and routines, you can apply for an independent senior home. It could be a flat in a block with lift facilities or a terraced house with a little garden.
Nursing home/nursing accommodation (Plejeboliger/plejehjem)
If you are unable to manage yourself in your own home and need help around the clock you can apply for nursing accommodation or room in a nursing home. The staff is working round the clock with the purpose of helping you with personal care, practical assistance and serving meals.
When you live in a nursing home/nursing accommodation you will maintain your national pension. You have to pay rent, electricity, and heating, just like you would in any other place. You also have to pay for meals and other need you may have in your everyday life. However, you will neither be charged for the personal assistance you receive nor for the nursing care.
In a nursing home/nursing accommodation you have your own home with access to communal area nearby.
Granting of independent senior citizen homes, nursing accommodation or nursing home
If you think you need an independent senior citizen home, nursing accommodation or room in a nursing home you should contact the district nurse or the local social authorities of your municipality. An official from the municipality will pay you a visit and it will be ascertained which type of accommodation will be suitable to you.
If you have been granted an independent senior citizen home, nursing accommodation or room in a nursing home in your local area you can move to a similar accommodation in another municipality, if the new municipality accepts the choice of accommodation already made.
You can obtain further further information about senior citizen housing by contacting Boligrådgivningen for Ældre in Copenhagen (advice centre dealing with senior citizen housing in Copenhagen), Vendersgade 29, st. tv, 1363 Copenhagen K.
Telephone 33 18 81 10.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
lnterpretation
When are you entitled to an interpreter?
Different rules apply for interpretation assistance provided by the public municipality and will depend upon each individual case. When you contact the municipality, see your doctor, go to the hospital or anywhere else it is up to them to decide whether an interpreter should be present during the meeting/conversation or not. If they find that you need an interpreter it will be free of charge.
However, all municipalities involved have to make sure that they have made themselves clear towards you. They have to ascertain that you have understood their message. Likewise, it is their obligation to ensure that they have understood what you are saying.
Therefore, it is always advisable to check whether it is possible for you to be assisted by an interpreter.
lf you plan to return to your country of origin
Your municipality may be able to provide you with financial assistance if you plan to return home. Even in cases where keeping a Danish pension is not possible, aid may be available to cover travel or other expenses as well as aid to beginning anew in your native land.
If you would like to obtain more information concerning the possibilities for financial support, contact Dansk Flygtningehjælp at tel. 33 73 50 00 or see "at vende hjem" on our web-site at.
Advice Centres
It will always be wise of you to seek advice if your are in any doubt.
The advice centres mentioned in this booklet have one thing in common: Good expertise in matters concerning senior citizens and immigrants. It is free of charge to contact the centres and they operate independently of authorities. You can contact any of the centres and remain anonymous.
Advice centres for refugees run by Dansk Flygtningehjælp
These centres offer advice in cases where decisions are made according to The Aliens Act, The Integration Act, The Active Social Policy Act, Family Law, and other legal matters. Advice is also offered in psychosocial matters.
The advice centre cannot be involved in a specific case but can offer advice and guidance.
Addresses and opening hours
København
"Frivillighuset"
Nørrebrogade 32, mezz. (1st floor)
2200 København N.
Telephone.: 35 36 74 17.
Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 18:00 - 21:00.
Thursday: 15:00- 18:00.
Nykøbing Falster
Strandgade 2, 4800 Nykøbing Falster
Telephone: 54 85 61 24
Opening hours: Tuesdays during even numbered weeks: 19:00 - 20:00
Århus
Spanien 63, st. tv. 8000 Århus C.
Telephone.: 86 78 70 12.
Opening hours: Monday: 18:00 - 20:00. Thursday: 15:30 - 17:30. and by appointment
Fredericia
"Frivillighuset i Fredericia" Prinsessegade 81 B, kld. 7000 Fredericia.
Telephone.: 75 91 05 29
Opening hours: Tuesday: 19:00 - 21:00.
Vejle
c/o CETT. Banegårdspladsen 1, 3., 7100 Vejle.
Telephone.: 21 79 51 29
Opening hours: Thursday odd weeks: 17:00- 19:00.
Odense
Klingenberg 15, 1., 5000 Odense C.
Telephone.: 66 11 10 88.
Opening hours: Monday: 18:00 - 20:30 Thursday: 15:00- 17:30.
Esbjerg
Frivillighuset Brobyggerne, Skolegade 39, 1. sal, 6700 Esbjerg.
Tel.: 75 45 79 34
Opening hours: Wednesdays during even numbered weeks:18:00 -20:00
Advice service for members of Ældre Sagen
The advice service centre has been established for members and is providing answers to questions about social and legal matters, such as pension, housing, care etc. The advice centre cannot be involved in a specific case but can offer advice and guidance.
Only telephone contact is possible. Calls are toll free and advice is given in the Danish language.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Telephone.: 80 30 15 27
Each year Ældre Sagen publishes the book "Værd at Vide" with information about social, legal and economical issues for senior citizens. The book can be obtained from Ældre Sagen.
Local contact:
Borgergade 10, Postboks 53
1002 København K
Tel.: 33 73 50 00
Fax: 33 32 84 48
drc@drc.dk
www.flygtning.dk
Nyropsgade 45
1602 KøbenhavnV
Tel.: 33 96 86 86
Fax: 33 96 86 87
aeldresagen@aeldresagen.dk
www.aeldresagen.dk
