NAV in Norway is the equivalent of two Polish institutions: ZUS and the Poviat Labor Office. It is short for words Ny arbeids- og velferdsforvaltningwhich literally translates to "Office of Employment and Social Welfare". His tasks include ensuring that as many Norwegian residents as possible find employment. It offers various forms of financial support, such as unemployment and sickness benefits. It is also responsible for the payment of parental and retirement benefits.
NAV in Norway and the social assistance system
NAV in Norway is an important part of the entire Norwegian welfare system. The basic conditions that must be met to apply for support include the following:
- legality of stay in Norway,
- inability to earn a living from own work or from social benefits.
Each application is considered individually, and in the case of many aid instruments, specific limits on the amount of funds granted apply. For help from NAV, please go to the nearest branch. The principle was adopted that in each commune there should be at least one.
Learn more about the social welfare system in Norway >>>
NAV in Norway and family benefits
NAV in Norway offers support to couples who have just had a baby or are waiting for it. Pregnant women can apply for a pregnancy allowance, and right after birth, parents can apply for a baby shower. However, it is worth being aware of the fact that the use of the baby bed makes it impossible to grant the right to parental benefit, because it is dedicated to those women who have not developed the right to parental benefits.
Caregivers of a child under the age of 18 may apply for family allowance, and if the person under care is between the ages of 1 and 2, additionally a care allowance. In the case of the child benefit, you can apply for compensation up to 3 years back, but in relation to the NAV care allowance, the due funds may only be paid out up to 3 months back.
Freshly baked mums and dads are also entitled to parental benefit divided into maternity leave and paternity leave. The duration of this benefit depends on what percentage of remuneration coverage we choose. With 80% coverage, we can count on 59 weeks of parental benefit, and with 100%, for 49 weeks, during which the benefit will be paid. It is worth knowing that homosexual relationships have the same rights to family benefits as heterosexual couples.
links:
- Parental benefit - what is it? >>>
- Paternity leave - pappapermisjon >>>
- Becikowe and pregnancy allowance >>>
- Family allowance and care allowance >>>
- Homosexual relationships and childcare >>>
NAV in Norway - dates, special conditions
It is important to adhere to the deadlines set by NAV in Norway. Failure to meet them results in a delay in obtaining the right to social benefits, and in some cases may completely prevent their payment. In some cases, NAV provided for the possibility of equalizing funds up to 3 years back, but it is not a rule.
An interesting issue is the disbursement flexibility instrument. Thanks to it, it is possible to combine parental leave with work or holiday leave. There are, however, certain conditions that must be met and certain limitations that you should be aware of.
Please also note that all parental benefits granted after July 1, 2018 are subject to changes in terms of duration. Both the mother and father exclusive periods were extended, while the joint period was shortened. Details can be found in the links below.
links:
- Deadlines for submitting applications to NAV >>>
- Flexible payment of parental benefit >>>
- Duration of parental benefit >>>
Help for the unemployed in Norway
NAV in Norway also offers assistance to the unemployed. Labor market instruments are varied and include such solutions as unemployment benefits, apprenticeships, training financing, mentoring, reimbursement of costs resulting from the employment relationship, reimbursement of the costs of workplace equipment or referral to vocational courses.
To qualify for this support, you must be entitled to unemployment benefits. The basic criterion is to have a legal residence permit, as well as to work in the last calendar year in which the minimum income will be at the level of the so-called "G values".
Learn more on support for unemployed people in Norway >>>
The unemployed can also count on financial support from NAV in Norway. The basic conditions for granting unemployment benefit are as follows:
- Your work time has been reduced by at least half,
- you had an income of 1,5 G in the last year or in the last 3 years,
- you are registered as a jobseeker or submit your current employment status to NAV every 14 days,
- you are actually looking for a job,
- you have the right to stay legally on the territory of Norway.
Foreigners may also apply for this form of benefit. Provided that they have earned their income in the territory of the Kingdom, and there are two groups of such persons - cross-border workers and workers residing permanently in Norway.
An interesting alternative is permittering, i.e. an allowance for temporarily unemployed people. This benefit is available to persons who are temporarily unemployed, but their employment contract has not been terminated. Thanks to the collection of such funds from NAV in Norway, the employee is not obliged to report to work, while the employer is not obliged to pay the salary.
links:
- Unemployment benefit in Norway - how to get it? >>>
- Unemployment benefit for foreigners - how to do it? >>>
- What is permittering and who is it entitled to? >>>
NAV in Norway also offers help to the sick
Among the social benefits offered by NAV there are also solutions dedicated to people who are incapable of living independently. The basic condition is to demonstrate that the patient requires constant care from his relatives and that his health condition requires specialist treatment. In such cases, a nursing supplement is granted, which can be paid to both children and persons over the age of 18.
There are also municipal nursing benefits in Norway. In order to obtain such support, it must be shown that the family or other caregivers carry out activities with the sick person that would otherwise be the responsibility of the commune. Each application for this allowance is considered individually. The documentation provided is assessed by officials and it is they who determine what form of assistance will be granted.
Persons who are incapable of employment due to their health may also count on the granting of the right to auxiliary income. The possibility of obtaining it requires meeting a number of conditions, and the most important is the need to remain under constant care. NAV may also provide assistant services for 2 hours a week.
People who are unable to work due to illness or injury can count on a compensatory supplement. You are entitled to this benefit if your working capacity is less than 50%. In order to obtain such support, certain criteria must be met and specific formalities must be fulfilled.
It is good to know that people who are permanently unemployed can get a disability allowance. This also applies to those who previously received a compensatory supplement. The entitlement to the disability benefit comes in different circumstances. If the dysfunction was acquired through professional activities, the entire process of treatment and rehabilitation must be completed. It is also due to those who were born with defects that prevent them from starting a gainful activity.
links:
- Nursing supplement for minors >>>
- Nursing supplement for people over 18 years of age >>>
- Communal nursing benefits >>>
- Auxiliary income in Norway >>>
- Compensation allowance in Norway >>>
- Disability Allowance in Norway >>>
Retirement in Norway
As reported, NAV in Norway spends the largest part of its budget on retirement benefits. According to Norwegian law, anyone who has had insurance continuity for at least 3 years can count on the Norwegian pension. The condition is that the pension contributions have been paid in Norway. There is also a minimum pension rate, but in order to get it, you must have worked at least 40 years in this country.
Learn more about retirement in Norway >>>
NAV in Norway - employee support
Workers in Norway can count on NAV support in the event of illness. They offer employee sickness benefits. The condition, however, is the payment of health contributions to the Norwegian health system. Conditions must also be defined, including the requirement to work the last 4 weeks before the disease.
Special conditions also apply. They concern such professional groups as, inter alia, seamen, fishermen, and people between 62 and 70 years of age. Moreover, NAV provides for the possibility of combining sickness allowance with an allowance for disabled people.
link:
What else does NAV have to provide?
When contacting NAV, it is worth knowing your rights. The most important thing is that the office must provide an interpreter for every foreigner who expresses such a need. Moreover, the employees of this institution are obliged to assist in the preparation of applications. It is worth remembering to avoid unnecessary expenses on translation or legal services.
Find out more about ithow to deal with Norwegian labor law >>>
NAV in Norway - worth using
For emigrants from Poland, it may be misleading that NAV in Norway is in fact a combination of the Polish Social Insurance Institution with Poviat Labor Offices, and even municipal and communal Social Welfare Centers. This office deals with social matters, pensions and assistance for the unemployed. It is also worth knowing the specifics of the functioning of this institution, because as statistics show - about 60% of cases are considered negative. It is worth remembering that every foreigner has the right to an interpreter when contacting this office. It is enough to report such a need in Norwegian or English, and NAV is obliged to fulfill this request.
