Work Assessment Allowance (AAP) - key information

Arbeidsavklaringspenger (AAP) is a support scheme offered by NAV, designed to provide income for people who need financial support because of illness or injury. The aim is to clarify whether they can remain in work or return to work.

Usually, work capacity must be reduced by at least 50 percent, and the person must have been a member of the social security system (folketrygden) for at least 5 years for the benefit to be payable. You can apply for AAP to assess whether you are entitled to it. AAP can be paid from the date the application is submitted.

Who can receive AAP?

You may be entitled to AAP if you meet the following conditions:

• Your work capacity is limited because of illness or injury, usually by at least 50 percent.
• Work capacity must be limited for all types of work for which you are qualified.
• You need treatment to improve your work capacity or support from NAV to keep or find work.
• You must usually have been a member of the social security system for at least 5 years.
• You are between 18 and 67 years old.

What can you receive AAP for?

To qualify for AAP, work capacity must usually be reduced by at least 50 percent because of illness or injury. If this reduction is due to a recognised occupational injury or occupational disease, it is enough for work capacity to be reduced by at least 30 percent.

To receive AAP, there must be a possibility of improving work capacity, for example through treatment, work-focused measures or support from NAV. Incidentally, you may also receive AAP if you are on sick leave while working up to 60 percent of full time.

Rules relating to sykepenger (statutory sick pay) and AAP

• If you are entitled to sick pay and the benefit basis is equal to or higher than twice the National Insurance basic amount (2 G), you must use up your sick pay entitlement before becoming entitled to AAP.
• If the sick pay benefit basis is lower than 2 G, you can choose between sick pay and AAP.
• If you receive sick pay for part-time work of up to 60 percent, you may be entitled to both sick pay and a reduced AAP payment.

Amount of AAP

You can receive 66 percent of your income, up to 6G (469 735 kroner). The amount of AAP is determined based on your income for the year before the period in which work capacity was reduced by at least 50 percent. If you earn more than 6 times the basic amount, amounts above this are not taken into account.

If you have little or no income, you will receive a minimum annual amount called “minstesats”, depending on your age.

Additional support for people with children

If you support a child under 18 years of age, you may receive a child supplement of 35 kroner per day, 5 days a week. This includes both your own children and adopted children, provided that you are their main carer. If you receive the child supplement and the child stays outside Norway / the EEA area or Switzerland for more than 90 days in a 12-month period, you will lose the right to this supplement.

It is worth noting that you can also receive a child supplement for children for whom you pay child maintenance, even if you are not currently paying it.

If you return to work in the public sector, you may also apply for financial support from the public pension system, but you must apply for this separately.

Other information

• If you work, the AAP payment will be reduced depending on the amount of work.
• You may be entitled to financial support from the public pension system if you work in the public sector.
• If work capacity is not fully used, NAV may reduce the AAP payment.
• The decision on the amount of AAP is made based on your income before the period in which work capacity was reduced.

The above information is general and we recommend consulting a NAV adviser for more detailed information related to your situation.