This section provides information about who is entitled to basic benefit (grunnstønad) and attendance benefit (hjelpestønad), and what conditions apply to the benefits.

Regarding the UK the EEA/EFTA-UK Separation Agreement or the Convention on Social Security between Norway and the UK is applied.

In what situation can I claim?

You may be entitled to basic benefit and attendance benefit if you have long-term extra expenses as a result of illness or injury.

What conditions do I need to meet?

Basic benefit

In order to receive basic benefit, you must have specific expenses as a result of an injury, illness or congenital disability.

The annual extra expenses must come to at least NOK 8 232 in order to qualify for assistance.

You must be able to document the injury/illness/defect with a doctor's certificate or equivalent.

You must be able to document the expenses, e.g. with receipts or an overview of the probable extra expenses over time.

More information about basic benefit.

Attendance benefit

In order to receive attendance benefit, you must be receiving care or nursing from a private individual with whom you have close personal ties, or you must be able to document that attendance benefit will enable you to set up this kind of private care arrangement.

Attendance benefit requires you to need constant supervision or help with personal care and hygiene and nutritional needs.

The expenses for the assistant must be at least NOK 14 748 annually.

You must be able to document the injury/illness/need for supervision with a doctor's certificate or equivalent, such as a letter from the pedagogical‑psychological service (PPT).

You cannot receive attendance benefit if you are receiving support from other government schemes, such as home nursing services. This applies even if you have to pay a co-payment for these services.

More information about attendance benefit.

Higher rate attendance benefit

You must be (or be the parents of) a child under the age of 18 with a much greater need for care or supervision than can be covered by the standard attendance benefit.

The higher rate attendance benefit must increase the likelihood that the child will be able to continue living at home.

Unlike attendance benefit, what affects the amount of the benefit here is workload rather than financial expenses. For this reason, applicants need to be able to demonstrate the workload created by the child's need for care and supervision.

You must have a doctor's certificate that documents the child's functional impairment and cause, as well as the extent of the need for stimulation, supervision, education and exercise.

More information about higher rate attendance benefit.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Basic benefit and attendance benefit are both exempt from tax, and are payable once per month.

Basic benefit

Basic benefit can cover extra expenses related to: transport, guide dog, operation of aids, use of prostheses/support bandages etc., additional food expenses due to special dietary needs which are medically essential, wear and tear on clothing and bedlinen.

Transport for persons with functional impairment is not covered if the person is 70 years of age or older.

There are six different rates (levels) of basic benefit. The table below shows the six different levels with the yearly amount at the top, and the monthly amount underneath; rates are valid from 1 January 2019. All amounts are in NOK.

It is important to note that the basic benefit only covers direct, specific expenses incurred as a result of a long-term illness, injury or defect.

To apply for basic benefit, you must submit a written application to NAV (in Norwegian only).

Attendance benefit

Attendance benefit is intended to provide funding to enable someone to set up or continue with a private care arrangement.

From 1 January 2019 onward, standard attendance benefit amounts to NOK 14 748 per year, i.e. NOK 1 229 per month.

To apply for attendance benefit, you must submit a written application to NAV (in Norwegian only).

Higher rate attendance benefit

The amount of benefit is directly related to the workload of the person providing the care.

There are three different rates (levels) of higher rate attendance benefit. The table below shows the different levels with the yearly amount at the top, and the monthly amount underneath; rates are valid from 1 January 2016. All amounts are in NOK.

To apply for higher rate attendance benefit, you must submit a written application to NAV (in Norwegian only).

It is important that you describe your actual workload, if this exceeds what the doctor recommends or describes in the doctor's certificate.

Know your rights

The links below direct you to websites that describe your legal rights, but they are not part of the European Commission's websites. The Commission is therefore not responsible for the content.

• Basic benefit and attendance benefit - National Insurance Act (in Norwegian only)
• Your rights as a member of the National Insurance Scheme

The Commission's publications and websites:

• http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=849&langId=en

Who do you need to contact?

NAV: Via NAV's website https://www.nav.no/en/Home, or at your local NAV office.