Uføretrygd is the income-replacement benefit from NAV for people whose ability to work is permanently reduced by at least 50 percent. This guide explains conditions, the 66 percent rate, residency requirements for immigrants and the NAV application path in 2026.
What is uføretrygd and who can apply?
Uføretrygd is a lifelong benefit from NAV replacing your work income when illness or injury makes work permanently impossible. In 2026 more than 370,000 people in Norway receive it. It is not a loan — you do not pay it back.
You qualify if you are between 18 and 67, have been a member of Norwegian national insurance for at least 3 years right before the disability, your illness is permanent (not temporary), you have completed relevant medical treatment and work-oriented measures without regaining full work capacity, and your earning capacity is reduced by at least 50 percent.
Most people reach uføretrygd after a period of AAP (work assessment allowance). Some move directly from sick leave when the condition is clearly permanent.
The requirement: 50 % permanent reduction in work ability
The core rule is that your income capacity is permanently reduced by at least 50 %. NAV bases the decision on:
- Medical documentation from your GP and specialist
- Which jobs you realistically can perform given your education, experience and location
- Whether adaptations or aids would make employment possible
- Whether you have completed assessment and active measures (courses, work trial, adaptation)
The diagnosis alone is not decisive — what matters is how much the illness actually limits your ability to earn income. Two people with the same diagnosis can receive different rulings.
Graded uføretrygd: If you can still work partially, you receive graded uføretrygd. Common grades are 50, 60, 70, 80 and 100 %. With 60 % grade you work at 40 % capacity and receive uføretrygd for the remaining 60 %.
Benefit rate: 66 % of the income basis
Uføretrygd equals 66 % of the average of the best three of your five last calendar years with pensionable income before the disability arose.
Example: With an average of NOK 600,000 over the best three of the last five years:
66 % × 600,000 = NOK 396,000 per year gross (before tax).
Grunnbeløpet (G): All national-insurance rates are adjusted on 1 May by wage growth. From 1 May 2026 the base amount is NOK 124,028.
Minimum guarantee 2026:
| Situation | Factor | Annual gross |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 2.48 × G | approx. NOK 307,590 |
| Married/cohabiting (per person) | 2.28 × G | approx. NOK 282,784 |
| Young disabled (before age 26) | 2.91 × G | approx. NOK 360,921 |
Ceiling: Uføretrygd is calculated on income up to 6 G (NOK 744,168 in 2026) for the main computation. Income above that does not increase the rate.
Exempt income limit: You can earn up to 0.4 × G (NOK 49,611 in 2026) without any reduction. Above this line the benefit is reduced krone for krone.
National-insurance time requirement for immigrants
Full uføretrygd normally requires 40 years of national-insurance membership between ages 16 and 66. For immigrants with shorter time, a proportional (reduced) uføretrygd is granted.
A basic rule still applies: you must have been insured in Norway for at least 3 years right before the disability arose.
EEA citizens: Through the EEA agreement you can aggregate insurance periods from other EEA/EFTA countries. Five years in Poland plus three in Norway count as eight when checking the 3-year rule.
Third-country nationals: The 3-year rule applies fully. Periods of residence permission without employment (for example family immigration without work) may count in residency but NAV assesses case by case.
Refugees and collective protection: Special rules — insurance time counts from the arrival date with permit. Ukrainian refugees with collective protection are included.
From AAP to uføretrygd: the NAV process
Many apply for uføretrygd after AAP has run out or when it is clear that work capacity will not recover:
- Use the «Uføretrygd» application guide on nav.no. Sign in with BankID or MinID (see BankID and MinID).
- Attach medical documentation: GP statement, specialist report, hospital investigations.
- NAV obtains records on employment history, income, marital status and previous benefits.
- Processing time: normally 3–6 months. Complex cases (third country, many years abroad) can take 9–12 months.
- Decision: written decision delivered digitally to your digital mailbox (Digipost or eBoks) or on paper. It states uføregrad and monthly amount.
- Appeal: deadline is 6 weeks from the decision date. Send it to NAV Klageinstans; next stop is Trygderetten.
During processing you may be entitled to economic social assistance or continued AAP if conditions are met.
Tax, child supplement and other support
Uføretrygd is taxable income, taxed as wages but with a lower national-insurance contribution (5.1 % in 2026 versus 7.8 % for employees). Your tax card is updated automatically.
Child supplement: If you support children under 18 you can receive child supplement. It is means-tested against the spouse's income.
Housing benefit: Uføretrygd counts as income when calculating Husbanken housing benefit. Many uføretrygd recipients also receive housing benefit.
Old-age pension: Uføretrygd converts automatically to old-age pension at age 67. Insurance time from the uføretrygd period counts.
Summary
Uføretrygd from NAV gives you 66 % of your income basis when work capacity is permanently reduced by at least 50 %. Immigrants normally need 3 years of Norwegian insurance time, though the EEA agreement allows aggregation from other member states. On 1 May 2026 the base amount G is NOK 124,028 and the single-person guarantee is 2.48 × G. Apply via nav.no with solid medical documentation, and use the 6-week appeal right if you disagree with the decision.
