This scheme is applicable if your health is such that you can return to work, but not to the job you are on sick leave from.

The scheme applies to everyone who was working at the time they went on sick leave. Both employees, self-employed and freelancers can be entitled to the scheme.

Please write to us if you want us to assess whether the scheme is relevant for you.

You can also talk to your doctor or contact your Nav office if you think this scheme may be relevant to you. 

Your Nav advisor must also assess whether there is anything Nav can do to help you find a new job.

You can receive sickness benefit for up to 12 weeks while you look for a new job. If you have not found a new job by that time, you can apply for unemployment benefit. 

The maximum period of sickness benefit is 52 weeks. That includes the weeks you receive sickness benefit through the fit for employment scheme.

If you have less than 12 weeks left of the 52-week maximum, the period you can receive sickness benefit through the fit for employment scheme will be shorter.

Before you can receive sickness benefit while looking for a job:

• Nav must have assessed whether the scheme is relevant for you and provided you with information.
• Your doctor must have given you a sick note with a fit for work date, and confirmed that it is your health that is causing you to resign from the job you are on sick leave from.
• You must have resigned from the job you are on sick leave from.
• Your employer must have provided written confirmation that your employment has ended on the day you have been reported fit for work. If there is a notice period, the employer must also confirm that you do not have to work during the notice period.
• You must register as a job seeker (in Norwegian). If you have problems with the registration, you can write to us.
• You and your doctor must have received a letter from Nav stating that you can use the scheme “fit for employment”.

To receive sickness benefit after being declared fit for employment, you must submit an employment status form every 14 days. Read more about how to fill in and submit the employment status form:

Fill in employment status form – fit for employment

How to

If you later apply for unemployment benefit, different rules apply for how to fill in the employment status form for unemployment benefit (in Norwegian).

Please contact us if you have questions or if you are not sure you filled in the employment status form correctly. That way, you avoid the risk of getting money you later have to pay back.