The Danish social security system

Social security cover in Denmark covers all risks. Employees and the self-employed pay an overall contribution corresponding to 8% of their gross salaries and income to the Labour Market Fund which finances daily benefits over and above the first two weeks which are paid by the employer, part of an anticipated invalidity pension and the percentage of the unemployment benefit that is the responsibility of the State, notably in the case of pre-retirement benefit.
Sickness benefit
Each beneficiary receives a health card free of charge and this has to be shown at each visit to the doctor. To obtain daily benefits paid by the employer and calculated on the basis of the insuree’s salary of up to 3,625 kroner (487 euros) a week or 98 kroner (13 euros) an hour for an average of 37 hours a week. Daily benefits are paid for 52 weeks over a period of 18 consecutive months.
Maternity
A salaried woman must have worked for at least 120 hours during the 13 weeks immediately preceding pre-natal leave. Self-employed women must prove they have worked at least 18 ½ hours a week for at least 6 months in the 12 months immediately preceding maternity leave. Payments are calculated on the basis of income and correspond to a maximum weekly sum of 3,625 kroner. The mother has a right to daily benefits for four weeks before the estimated date of birth and for 14 weeks after the birth. The father has the right to 2 weeks in the 14 weeks following the birth.
Old-age
The old-age pension in Denmark is made up of a social pension and a complementary pension. The right to an old-age pension starts at the age of 65. To receive a national pension (as a resident of Denmark), citizens must currently live and have lived, in the country for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 65. The social pension consists of a basic, fixed sum for everyone (of 63,048 kroner, i.e. 8,473 euros a year if the insuree has lived at least forty years in Denmark) and a supplement, the amount of which is calculated on the basis of resources, revenue and the pensioner’s family situation.
Unemployment
The unemployment insurance funds are non-profit making associations. There are thirty of them, approved by the State and operating under its control. All employees and self-employed workers between the ages of 18 and 63 can contribute to an unemployment fund as members. Insurance is voluntary. The unemployed person must have worked and paid insurance contributions for at least 52 weeks over the preceding 3 years. They must have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least 12 months. The reference salary is the average income of the 12 preceding weeks, or the last 3 months of employment. Unemployment benefit represents 90% of the average income with a maximum equal to 3,110 kroner (417 euros) a week. It is paid 5 days a week for a maximum of 4 years over a period of 6 years.

Source: www.cleiss.fr