Citizen in Denmark - Ny i Danmark

Life for the elderlyActive elderlyElder citizens have numerous opportunities to pursue theirinterests and lead an active life. The Danish government’sageing policy is founded on the principle that the elderlyshould have as much responsibility and say in their ownlives as possible. As an elderly citizen, you therefore retainthe right to be a part of the decision-making process. Bothon a personal level and in relation to decisions affectingyour local area.Municipal authorities have their own elderly councils whosemembers are locally elected elderly citizens who advise theauthority on matters of special importance to the elderly inthe local community. Ask your municipal authority aboutthe possibilities and meeting places.Working life and retirementDanish society also needs its elderly citizens to make acontribution if they can. Some people work until theyreach 70. Others retire when they reach 65 and have theright to draw a state pension. Others retire from the jobmarket earlier still, taking pre-retirement benefit and earlyretirement pension.State pensionMost people have the right to a state pension when theyreach 65. The principle behind the state pension schemeis that a person earns the right to a pension as a citizen inDanish society. If you have lived in Denmark for 40 years fromthe age of 15 until you retire, you have the right to a full statepsnsion. If you have lived in Denmark for a shorter time, youhave the right to a smaller pension. It is the municipal pensionoffice that calculates the size of the pension and can informyou of the amount to which you are entitled.Pension savingsMany people supplement their state pensions with otherkinds of pension. Many employees subscribe to pensionschemes. This means that each month the employer andthe employee pay a fixed amount towards a pension held bya pension provider. You can also make direct payments to aprivate pension savings in a bank or a pension provider.If you pay to a private pension provider, the amount is taxdeductible and you will end up paying less tax.Early retirement benefitEarly retirement benefit enables people to retire or partiallyretire from work, as the scheme allows you to remain asalaried employee while receiving a reduced early retirementbenefit.The earliest age you can take early retirement benefit is60. You must have been a member of an unemploymentfund for 30 years and have made special early retirementcontributions. Early retirement benefit stops, at the latest,when you reach 65.Early retirementSome people suffer from such major physical or mentalproblems that they are unable to work and must take earlyretirement. A person must fulfil certain conditions in order toqualify for early retirement - one of them being their periodof residence in Denmark. Ask your municipal authorityFAMILY69