Assistive aids from NAV are equipment you can borrow completely free when you have a permanent functional limitation. NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral loans out wheelchairs, walkers, visual and hearing aids and much more. You do not own the equipment – you return it when you no longer need it.
What are assistive aids from NAV?
Assistive aids from NAV are equipment that should make everyday life easier when you have a functional limitation. NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) has its own Hjelpemiddelsentral in each county. They loan out the equipment for free through the National Insurance Scheme.
The right is found in the National Insurance Act chapter 10. The scheme applies to everyone who is a member of the National Insurance Scheme – regardless of age, income or citizenship. This is a right many people do not know about. If you have a permanent functional limitation, you may have a claim to assistive aids even if you have never heard of the scheme. See also the overview of rights for people with disabilities in Norway.
You do not own the assistive aid. You borrow it, and you return it when the need is over. You also do not need to insure it. If the equipment is damaged or lost, it is NAV that takes responsibility.
Who can get assistive aids from NAV?
You can get assistive aids if your functional capacity is substantially and permanently reduced due to illness, injury or age. "Permanent" means in practice that the difficulties last for more than two years. The law only says "permanent"; the two-year threshold is NAV's own interpretation, stated on nav.no (as of 16. juli 2026).
The scheme is not means-tested against income. It does not matter how much you earn or own. The only thing that counts is that the assistive aid is necessary and appropriate for you. In addition, you must be a member of the National Insurance Scheme.
The scheme is suitable for example for:
- elderly people who have experienced reduced mobility over the years
- people with chronic illness or functional limitation
- children and young people who need equipment at home, in kindergarten or at school
- people who need accommodation to work
What kind of assistive aids can you borrow?
NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral loans out equipment for almost all parts of life. The most common categories are:
- Mobility: wheelchair, walker, crutches, patient lift and bed
- Vision: magnifier, reading television, white cane and guide dog
- Hearing: alarm equipment and technical equipment (hearing aids are obtained via ear-nose-throat doctor, not directly from the central office)
- Memory and cognition: calendar, reminders and planning support
- Communication: equipment for people who have difficulty with speech and language
- Housing: adaptation of the home, for example ramp or grab bar
- Work and education: equipment and accommodation at the workplace or place of study
Some assistive aids are small and simple, others are advanced. On SamfunnPrep you will find several tools and guides for newcomers to Norway.
Assistive aids at work and in education
If you need accommodation to work or study, NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral can also help with that. You can get equipment and advice on how the workplace or place of study can be adapted. The goal is that you should be able to find or keep a job.
The support covers practical accommodation, not educational measures such as extra tuition. For students, the equipment is a loan throughout the studies, and you return it when you are finished. If you are self-employed and need to retrofit machinery, you must pay 40 percent of the cost yourself.
The municipality or NAV – where do you apply?
It depends on how long you need the equipment. If you have a short-term need of less than two years, you borrow from the municipality. If you have a permanent need, you apply to NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral.
| Need | Where you get help | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (under 2 years) | Municipality's own supplies | Walker after surgery |
| Permanent (over 2 years) | NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral | Wheelchair for chronic illness |
| Safety in the home | Municipality | Safety alarm for elderly |
You rarely apply alone. A municipal occupational therapist or assistive aid coordinator assesses your needs and finds the right equipment. Usually they fill out the application to NAV on your behalf. This help is free. Contact your municipality to get started.
How to apply for assistive aids step by step
The path to an assistive aid is easier than many think. Here is how you proceed:
- Contact the municipality. Call the service office and ask for an occupational therapist or assistive aid coordinator.
- Get your needs assessed. The professional assesses what you need, often in your home. The assessment is free.
- Submit application. The assistive aid coordinator usually fills out the application to NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral, and you sign or give authorization.
- Get the equipment delivered. NAV sends the assistive aid to the municipality, which often helps you with assembly and training.
- Return when the need is over. Then others can borrow the same equipment.
If you need help quickly, the municipality can often loan you simple equipment right away from its own supplies while the application to NAV is being processed.
Does it cost anything to borrow assistive aids?
No, it costs nothing to borrow assistive aids from NAV – with a few exceptions. Most assistive aids are completely free. Repair and maintenance of the equipment is also free, and there is no time limit – you keep the loan as long as you need it. But some types have a co-payment or a fixed rate:
| Type | Own cost | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Common assistive aids | Free | – |
| Activity aids (over 26 years) | 10 % co-payment, maximum 7 000 kr new / 2 000 kr used | 2026 |
| Affordable assistive aids | Fixed subsidy of 2 210 kr | from 1.1.2026 |
| Retrofit of machinery (self-employed) | 40 % co-payment | 2026 |
Note one thing for 2026: the budget for activity aids for people over 26 years has been used up for new purchases. If you apply now, you will get rejected for new equipment. NAV still covers repair and service on equipment you already have (as of 16. juli 2026).
Not the same as basic allowance or safety alarm
Assistive aids are equipment – not money. It is easy to confuse the schemes. Basic allowance and assistance allowance from NAV is financial support for extra expenses and care, not equipment. Safety alarms and welfare technology is, however, a municipal responsibility, not a NAV assistive aid.
If you are a next of kin, there are separate schemes. Read about care allowance for home care and get the full picture of elderly care in Norway.
Many of these rights are part of the curriculum for the citizenship test. On SamfunnPrep you can practice for free the rules that apply to welfare and everyday life in Norway.
