From 1 July 2026, new living allowance rates apply for wage garnishment and debt settlement. A single debtor must keep at least 11,388 kroner per month for food, clothing and transport. Housing costs are added on top of this amount.
These are the new rates
The rates are set out in the regulation on living allowance rates for wage garnishment and debt settlement. The regulation was changed on 24 June 2026, and the new amounts apply from 1 July 2026. All figures are per month.
| Situation | Rate per month |
|---|---|
| Single | 11,388 kroner |
| Married or cohabiting, per person | 9,644 kroner |
| Supporting spouse or cohabitant | 19,288 kroner |
The rate is meant to cover ordinary consumer expenses. Costs for public transport are included in the amount.
How much do you get in addition for children?
If you have responsibility for children, you receive a child allowance for each child. The allowance is added on top of the basic rate. Amounts per month, as of 25 July 2026:
- children under 6 years: 3,645 kroner
- children 6–10 years: 4,835 kroner
- children 11–14 years: 6,102 kroner
- children 15 years and older: 7,020 kroner
From the fourth person in the household onwards, a 20 per cent reduction is made to the child allowance. Your basic rate is not reduced. If you have custody of children you do not live with, you can receive a custody allowance. It is between 386 and 4,038 kroner per month, depending on the custody arrangement and the child's age.
Is rent included in the living allowance rate?
No. Housing costs are not included in the living allowance rate. They are added on top of the rate. This is the most common and most costly misunderstanding in cases involving wage garnishment.
Housing costs include rent, interest and instalment payments on a home loan, home insurance, municipal charges, leasehold fees, necessary maintenance and common costs in housing cooperatives and joint-ownership buildings.
Electricity, heating and household insurance, on the other hand, do not count as housing costs. They are already covered by the basic rate. If you think 11,388 kroner must also cover the rent, you accept too large a deduction. That way you lose real money every single month.
You must document your housing costs yourself. Send a copy of your lease, loan documents and invoices together with information about your finances.
What do you do if your deduction is too high?
You can ask the bailiff (the public enforcement authority) to review your deduction. The rule is in the Enforcement of Judgments Act § 7-21. It states that the bailiff authority can adjust the deduction when your financial situation changes, and that "the defendant can request adjustment". You do not have to wait for someone else to take the initiative.
Ask for a review if your situation has changed. Typical reasons are:
- your income has decreased
- your rent or home loan has become more expensive
- you have had a child, moved or become single
- the deduction was set before the new rates on 1 July 2026
The amount of the deduction can be appealed as long as the deduction is in place, cf. the Enforcement of Judgments Act § 7-24. The bailiff authority is a public body, not a debt collection agency, and is obliged to let you keep enough to live on. The rules on debt collection in Norway apply at an earlier stage, before the claim goes to the bailiff authority.
Do the same rates apply for debt settlement?
Yes. The rates are used both for wage garnishment and for debt settlement, which is an agreement where you pay what you can afford in a fixed period and the rest of your debt is cancelled. Wage garnishment also results in a payment remark, which makes it more difficult to borrow money.
Free help is available
Economic advice is free. NAV (the Labour and Welfare Administration) has a guidance service for finances and debt on telephone 55 55 33 39. There you can ask questions about debt collection, wage garnishment and debt settlement, or book an appointment with an economist and debt advisor at your local NAV office. As of 25 July 2026, the service is free, and you should contact them early.
Rights in relation to public authorities are part of the curriculum for the Norwegian society test. On SamfunnPrep you will find tasks and tools to practise such topics. SamfunnPrep explains the rules in simple Norwegian language.
