There are two exceptions to the general rule of 5 years of membership. These apply if you have been a member of the National Insurance Scheme for at least twelve consecutive months before you apply for AAP.

Exception A

• You were a member of the National Insurance Scheme when your ability to work became impaired, 

and 

• you have been a member for longer, or equally as long, as you have not been a member of the National Insurance Scheme after your turned 16 years of age.

Exception B

• Since turning 16, you have not been a member of the National Insurance Scheme for less than a total of five years. 

Summation of time

In some cases, if you have been covered by social insurance legislation and have accrued a period of national insurance cover in another country, this period may be considered a period of national insurance cover in Norway. This only applies if Norway has an agreement with the other country regarding this. Norway has such an agreement with the EU/EEA member states.

It is sufficient that you are a member at the time you apply for AAP.

If you are between 62 and 67 years of age when you apply, the general rule is that you must have had a pensionable income at least equivalent to the National Insurance basic amount (G) (text in Norwegian) the year before your ability to work was impaired. Nav can make exceptions.

If you meet the criteria both for receiving sickness benefits and AAP, you must first make full use your entitlement to sickness benefits. If your basis for sickness benefits is less than twice the National Insurance basic amount (2G) (NOK 248,056 ), you can still choose between sickness benefits and AAP.

You are entitled to sickness benefits for 52 weeks. If you are approaching the end of your 52-week sickness benefit period and you are still ill, you must apply for AAP yourself. You will not receive AAP automatically. The earliest you can receive AAP is from and including the day you submit your application.

If you went on sick leave with your first day of absence before 1 June 2021: 

• If you meet the criteria both for receiving sickness benefits and AAP, you are entitled to choose the higher benefit of the two.

If you went on sick leave with your first day of absence after 1 June 2021:

• If you meet the criteria both for receiving sickness benefits and AAP, you must first make full use your entitlement to sickness benefits. If your basis for sickness benefits is less than twice the National Insurance basic amount (2G), you can still choose between sickness benefits and AAP.

If you receive sick pay for a part-time job (up to 60 percent of full-time), you can be entitled to both sick pay and reduced Work Assessment Allowance (AAP).

If you are student in higher education, or a pupil in upper secondary school, and you have to put your education on hold for up to 6 months due to illness or injury, you may qualify for AAP even if your capacity for any work has not been reduced.

This applies if

• you have put your education completely on hold
• you need medical treatment before you will be able to resume your education
• your programme of study or upper secondary education is approved for support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen)

If you are receiving a loan/grant from Lånekassen, you will not be entitled to AAP for the period when you are entitled to an illness grant.

You must apply for AAP for us to consider your case. Along with your application, you must submit

• documentation from your school/educational institution confirming that you have put your education on hold
• documentation of your right to student loans and, if relevant, a sickness grant from Lånekassen

If you are ready to continue your AAP period, you can do so. It is sufficient that your ability to work has been impaired by at least 40 per cent. The earliest you may resume receiving AAP is from the day you submit your application.

• If you still have time left in your AAP period, you may resume your previous AAP period. In this case, it is sufficient that your capacity for work has been reduced by at least 40 percent. You can resume your AAP period from the date of application, but not sooner.
• If you have used the maximum AAP period, and Nav has concluded that you do not qualify for AAP beyond the maximum period (exemption), you may apply for a new AAP period, because there is no longer a waiting period. Your capacity for work must be reduced by at least 50 percent, and the date of application is the earliest date from which you can be granted a new AAP period.
• If your AAP ended because your assessment was completed and you returned to work, you can resume your previous case if you returned to work less than 52 weeks ago. In this case, your capacity for work must be reduced by at least 50 percent. You can be granted AAP from the date of application, but not sooner. See information below on the right to sickness benefit.
• In order to qualify for sickness benefit, you must have been working, either at full or partial capacity, for a period of 26 weeks. If you become ill again and not are entitled to sickness benefit, you may reapply for AAP. In this case, you may be entitled to AAP as a replacement for sickness benefit for a limited period of up to 6 months. The goal is to help you return to work within these 6 months.

If you apply for AAP, Nav will assess whether you are entitled to resume your earlier case, or whether you are entitled to a new period. You must submit an application for us to consider your case.

Our starting point is 66 per cent of your income. Here we look at pensionable income before your ability to work was impaired by at least 50 per cent. For most people, this is your income in the last calendar year before you were registered sick. We use either

• your income in the last year before you were registered sick and your ability to work was impaired by at least 50 per cent,

or

• Your average income the last three years before you registered sick and your ability to work was impaired by at least 50 per cent. 

Please note that annual income higher than six times the average of the National Insurance basic amount (6G), is not included in the calculation of AAP. 

If you have had low or no income before your ability to work was impaired by at least 50 per cent, you will still be able to receive a minimum annual allowance. We call this the minimum rate.

How much you receive as a minimum rate depends on your age:

• If you are 25 years of age or older, the minimum rate is 2,041G (2,041 times the National Insurance basic amount, per year). This corresponds to 253,141 Norwegian kroner.
• If you are younger than 25 years of age, the minimum rate is 2/3 of 2,041G. From and including the day you turn 25 years of age, your allowance will be adjusted upwards to 2,041G. 

If your income gives you a lower calculation basis than the minimum rate, we will increase your calculation basis to the minimum rate. 

If it gives you a higher calculation basis, we will use the income you had at the time of occurrence. 

If you are supporting a child or children under 18 years of age, you will receive a child supplement of NOK 36 per child, 5 days a week. This applies both to your own and adopted children, as long as you are supporting them. You can also receive child supplements for foster children if you have supported the foster child over the last two years. You can also receive child supplements for children for whom you have a maintenance obligation, even if you do not pay maintenance now.

If both parents are receiving AAP, both will be able to receive child supplements.

If you have a child/children, you must notify us in writing no later than 3 months after the birth in order to receive child supplement from the date of birth of the child/children. If you do not notify us before 3 months have passed, you will receive a child supplement for the new child/children from the date you notify Nav of the birth. 

To be entitled to the child supplement, the child must have been a resident of Norway/the EEA or Switzerland.

If your child stays outside of Norway/the EEA or Switzerland for more than 90 days over a 12-month period, you will no longer be entitled to the child supplement.

You must notify Nav if the child will be staying outside of Norway/the EEA or Switzerland and

• this will be for longer than 90 days 
• Upon departure, the child has already stayed outside of Norway/the EEA or Switzerland for 90 days over the last 12 months
• During this stay abroad, the child will have stayed outside of Norway/the EEA or Switzerland for 90 days over the last 12 months.

You must also notify us if you receive the child supplement for a child who is resident outside of Norway/the EEA. The same applies if you receive the child supplement and the child moves outside of Norway/the EEA.

You will lose the right to the child supplement if you do not satisfy the requirements.

If you are receiving AAP and are also receiving payment from an employer when you have:

• been given your notice 
• handed in your notice
• reduced your working hours,

the AAP you are receiving will be reduced by the same amount.

You may be entitled to financial support from the public sector pension scheme when you are receiving AAP

If you receive children's pension, the same amount will be deducted from your AAP until you turn 20.

As a rule, you can receive AAP for up to 3 years. 

However, the length of time in which you receive AAP will depend on how long you need to participate in work-oriented activities or receive medical treatment before you can work. The AAP period will therefore vary individually. 

There are separate rules for an extension beyond the ordinary period. During the Covid-19 pandemic, some recipients have been granted an extension of their ordinary AAP period. 

As you approach the end of your AAP period, we will assess whether you are entitled to an extension. You do not need to apply for an extension. We will discuss relevant work-oriented activities with you.

You may be entitled to an extension if you are already working and are close to being able to increase your ability to work or to finding or returning to work. You need to have an ability to work of more than 50 per cent.

You may also receive an extension to complete a training scheme you have started. 

Your AAP period can be extended by a maximum of 2 years. We cannot grant your application for APP while you are entitled to an extension of your AAP period.

If you are not entitled to an extension beyond 3 years, you can apply for a new AAP period. You may also be entitled to a new period following an extension of your AAP period.

If you are not entitled to an extension beyond 3 years, you can apply for a new AAP period. You may also be entitled to a new period following an extension of your AAP period.

A new AAP period may be granted if

• your ability to work is still impaired by at least 50 per cent due to illness or injury and 
• you need treatment, work-oriented activities or other follow-up by us in order to return to work 

You must submit an application for AAP. 

Changes in connection with work, e.g.:

• You find full-time or part-time employment.
• You are going to work more hours than you have informed Nav about.
• You are receiving payments from your employer.

Changes in your health, e.g.:

• You have fully or partly recovered.
• You drop out of an employment scheme or treatment.
• You are admitted to a hospital or an institution.

Changes in your private life, e.g.:

• You are responsible for more or fewer children.
• You are expecting a child and are intending to apply for a single maternity payment or parental benefits
• You are receiving a child supplement and the child has his or her own income.
• You are receiving a pension from another pension scheme.
• You have changed your address or bank account number. Read more about how to change your contact details or bank account number.
• You are in custody, serving a sentence or in detention. As a rule, you are not entitled to AAP in such cases.

Periods with AAP entitle you to earn parental benefits in the same way as periods in work. In order to be able to continue to receive AAP following maternity leave,

it is important that you re-apply for AAP before 52 weeks have passed after you last received parental benefits.

If you stay at an institution with free board and lodging, your AAP will normally be reduced by 50 per cent when you have stayed in the institution for more than three months.

Your AAP will not be reduced if you are supporting a spouse or children or have fixed and necessary housing expenses.

You lose your right to AAP if you are in custody or serving a sentence in an institution run by the Norwegian Correctional Services.

However, you will receive AAP if you are working for an employer outside the institution according to Chapter 3, section 20 of the Execution of Sentences Act. Day-release.

In order to receive AAP, you need to participate in the activities you have agreed with Nav.

If you are unable to participate in the agreed activity due to short-term illness, you are still entitled to AAP. If you have to interrupt a work-oriented activity or other activities for a long time due to illness, we will assess whether your activity plan should be changed.

In order to receive AAP, you need to participate in the activities you have agreed with Nav.

Being on holiday while you are receiving AAP means that you

• take time off from activities you have agreed with us
• take time off and do not want to be available to Nav for a period
• travel away in Norway and/or abroad and do not want to be available to Nav for a period

You are not entitled to AAP while you are on holiday. This is because during holiday periods it may be necessary to participate in activities such as a summer job, meetings with Nav or other kinds of follow-up. You will need to notify about your holidays in question 4 on the employment status form. Absence due to holidays will result in a reduced payment.

In the following cases, you may retain AAP if you take time off or travel away:

• You have clarified with us that activities or other follow-up by us are not relevant to you in the period.
• A free period when there are no work-oriented activities – such as Christmas and Easter.

In such periods you do not need to report absence on your employment status form, and you will receive AAP as usual.

If you are going to take a vacation from work, we will not reduce your AAP. However, if during the same period you have agreed to participate in other activities with us, and also take time off from these, then you will not be paid AAP on those days. 

If you are receiving holiday pay because you have accumulated the right to holiday pay through work, this will not lead to a reduction in AAP.

Keeping AAP while staying abroad 

Travel to another country within the EU/EEA

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state and are receiving AAP, you no longer need to apply to travel to another EU/EEA member state.

In order to be entitled to AAP, you need to have an approved activity plan with agreed activities that you shall follow. You can stay in another EU/EEA member state if you can combine your stay with agreed activities.

In order to receive AAP in another EU/EEA member state, you need to be

• involved in creating your activity plan and you need to participate in the agreed activities.
• contact us if your stay in an EU/EEA member state is preventing you from participating in an agreed activity, or if you want to participate in the activities in the EU/EEA member state. We will then need to assess whether the new activity is necessary and appropriate.

Travel abroad outside the EU/EEA

If you are planning to travel to another country outside the EU/EEA, you will need to apply before you travel in order to retain your AAP while you are abroad. You can retain your AAP for up to 4 weeks per calendar year in the event of a stay abroad outside the EU/EEA.

Are you a citizen of another country outside the EU/EEA?

• If you are travelling to a country outside the Nordic region, you will need to apply before you travel in order to retain your work assessment allowance.
• If you are travelling within the Nordic region, you will not need to apply. Before you travel, you will need to ensure that your stay does not prevent you from participating in other agreed health or work-oriented activities and follow-up. 

If you take time off in lieu of payment and receive your salary in the normal way, you will not be paid AAP for those hours.

Moving to a country outside the EU/EEA

If you are a citizen of an EEA member state or Switzerland, you can retain AAP when you move within the EEA member states and Switzerland.

As a rule, if you are a citizen of a country outside the EEA and Switzerland, you can retain AAP when you move within the Nordic region, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria. If you are also a member of the family of an EEA citizen, you can retain AAP while moving within the EEA area and Switzerland.

Duty to act

Since the criteria for receiving AAP also apply when you live in another EU/EEA member state, you need to be able to participate in work-oriented activities and/or treatment in the country to which you are moving..

You are responsible for finding a suitable treatment in the country to which you are moving, Nav cannot help you with this. You also need to be aware that poor access to work-oriented activities in many countries may make it difficult for you to fulfil your duty to act.

Moving to a country outside the EU/EEA

If you are moving to a country outside the EEA and Switzerland, you cannot retain AAP. 

Contact Nav

If you are considering moving permanently to an EEA member state or Switzerland, it may be a good idea to contact Nav in good time before you move to obtain advice about how this may affect your follow-up or right to financial support.

Obligations when moving

When you move abroad, you need to

• notify Nav
• notify the National Population Register

We would like to point out that when moving abroad, you must contact the Norwegian Tax Administration about tax liability to Norway.

Work you perform outside Norway may affect your rights. This also applies to work done for a Norwegian employer when working from home. Read more about working abroad (text in Norwegian). 

If you have work assessment allowance with an approved occupational injury or illness, you can work up to 70 per cent.

When you are close to working full time, you can work up to 80 per cent and still receive AAP for the remaining per cent. This period can last for up to 12 months. You can only use this option once in the AAP period.

This also applies when your working hours gradually increase during a period of fewer than 12 months. The period when your working hours are gradually increased must be a part of your activity plan.

Nav can reduce AAP if we find that you could have worked more than you are doing. If there are circumstances in your employment scheme that make it difficult to carry out the activities and thus make use of your ability to work, you will still receive a full work assessment allowance.

You can receive AAP while you and Nav are creating an activity plan. Read more about the activity plan.

You may receive AAP while you are waiting for treatment or to join an employment scheme.

When you have completed work-oriented activities or treatment and you are able to start looking for a job, you can receive AAP for up to 6 months while you are a job seeker (text in Norwegian). 

You need to be registered as a job seeker with Nav. 

You may be entitled to a disability pension if you have a permanently impaired ability to work due to illness or injury.

If you have applied for a disability pension in consultation with us, you may receive AAP for up to 8 months while we process your application for a disability pension.

If you temporarily become ill after receiving AAP, or if you have exhausted your right to sickness benefit, you may be entitled to AAP as a replacement for sickness benefit for a period of up to 6 months.

Your capacity for work must be reduced by at least 50 percent, and your illness or injury must be a major contributing factor in reducing your capacity for work. In addition, you must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• You have previously received AAP, and within 6 months of your work assessment allowance ending, you become temporarily unable to work due to a new illness.
• You have previously received AAP, and within 1 year of your work assessment allowance ending, you become temporarily unable to work due to the same illness as before.
• You have received sickness benefit, and you become unable to work again while working or receiving unemployment benefit.
• You have received sickness benefit, and you are still unable to work due to illness or injury.
• You have received AAP and then parental benefit, and you become unable to work again due to illness or injury less than 6 months after your parental benefit period ended.

You must have worked at full capacity for a period of 26 weeks before you requalify for sickness benefit.

You must apply for AAP for Nav to consider if you qualify. You can be granted AAP from the date of application, but not sooner.

You may apply to receive AAP for a limited period at the same time as you are establishing your own business. You can receive AAP for up to 6 months while you are in a development phase and/or 3 months while you are in a start-up phase.

It is a requirement that the establishment of your own business will result in you being able to support yourself or in combination with disability benefits. You can only apply if you are planning to start a new business.

Contact us for more information about how to proceed.

If you were receiving a Carer`s allowance before you were granted AAP, your Carer`s allowance will be included in the calculation basis for AAP. 

In cases where Carer`s allowance is pensionable income, you need to report the hours you are paid on your employment status form.

About filling out the employment status form

Read about filling out your employment status form.

If you were receiving a foster care allowance before you were granted AAP, your foster care allowance will be included in the calculation basis for AAP. 

Foster care allowance is also pensionable income, but you do not need to report the hours you are paid on your employment status form (with effect from and including 1 January 2018).

Receiving a foster care allowance in addition to AAP will not lead to a reduction in or loss of your AAP.