Sick beyond one year

Disability pension from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

Time-limited disability pension

• If you must reduce your hours because of illness or injury, you may be entitled to a disability pension from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• A disability pension is normally paid when you have been on sick leave for one year.

Permanent disability pension

• A permanent disability pension is granted if it is unlikely that the person on sick leave will recover his or her earning/work capability.
• This will normally only be considered once you have been on sick leave for a year and have undergone further medical treatment and/or participated in employment schemes.

Application

• The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund can grant a disability pension for all disability levels.
• If you are applying for a disability pension from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund because you have a disability level of 50 percent or more, you are required to also apply for a disability pension or rehabilitation benefit (AAP) from the National Insurance Scheme.
• In consultation with your doctor, you must apply for a disability pension to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (spk.no) (Norwegian).
• The Absence Group at the Payroll Office sends a pension notification to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund with information about the end-date of your salary and your disability level.
• The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund's processing time is 3 months from the date your application and the notification from your employer have been received.
• If you are granted a disability pension, you will be paid a salary until the end of the month in which the end-date of your salary payment falls, as the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund always starts payment from the first of the month after the end of your salary payment.
• The disability pension from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is pensionable.

Note:

• If you are granted a partial disability pension, you will accumulate new sickness benefits rights while you work.
• You can use the self-declaration sick leave days and sick leave days certified by medical personnel as of day 17  after you have started receiving a partial disability pension.
• During the accrual period, you can be on sick leave within 16 calendar days.

Read more about disability pensions from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (spk.no)

Work assessment allowance from NAV

• If your level of disability is 50% or higher, you must apply to NAV for a work assessment allowance.
• You can receive a work assessment allowance while you are
  • under active treatment
  • participating in employment schemes
  • testing your work capability (increasing workplace participation after an illness)
  • being followed up on by NAV after treatment and measures have been tried
• Contact your doctor to submit an application for a work assessment allowance - NAV 11-13.05 (nav.no) to NAV.
• In order to receive a work assessment allowance, you must submit an employment status form every 14 days.
• The work assessment allowance is equivalent to 66% of your income.

Note:

• If you are working part time while receiving a work assessment allowance, you will not be entitled to sickness benefits from UiO. You cannot use self-certification sick days or provide a medical certificate to your employer if you become ill.
• Shorter absences must be reported to NAV. NAV will then increase your work assessment allowance while you are ill.
• Furthermore, you will not start earning rights to new sickness benefits even though you have partially returned to work.

Read more about the work assessment allowance (nav.no)

Leave of absence from your position at UiO

• You can apply for leave without pay from all or part of your position at the University during the same period that you receive time-limited disability benefits/a work assessment allowance.
• Leave without pay is normally granted for up to 1 year. Read more about UiO's policy regarding leave of absence without salary (Norwegian).
• You will receive a leave letter from your workplace to confirm the period of leave. The letter will also describe the rights and responsibilities you have while you are on leave.