Social benefits in the Faroe Islands

The following is an overview of the terms of social insurance when you live and work here.

You are a permanent resident on the Faroe Islands:

If you have been a permanent resident on the Faroe Islands for more than one year you will normally be insured according to the residence-based insurance and benefits.

Note that special rules apply in relation to the Kingdom of Denmark with Denmark and Greenland.

The principal residence-based benefits are:

If you have a child

• Child allowance
• Maintenance support to single carers
• Reimbursement of half the payments to child support

If you are a pensioner

National basic pension according to current legislation

• Solidary labour market allowance
• Invalidity benefit
• Medicine supplement

If you have a functional impairment

• Income-based, early retirement pension 
• Other special supplements

If you are pregnant

Maternity leave

If you are a survivor

• Short-term survivor’s pension to a spouse
• Child allowance to orphans
•  Widow’s pension

If you become sick or injured

• Rehabilitation
• Temporary social assistance

You work on the Faroe Islands:

If you work on the Faroe Islands you are in principle entitled to work-based insurance and benefits. This applies if you are an employee or a self-employed person.

Note that special rules apply in relation to the United Kingdom of Denmark with Denmark and Greenland.

The work-based insurances and benefits are primarily:

If you are a pensioner

• Basic pension
• Income-related pension supplement
• Solidary labour market allowance

If you have a functional impairment

• Disability allowance and rehabilitation benefit

If you are pregnant

• Pregnancy benefit

If you become sick or injured

• Sickness benefit
• Rehabilitation

If you are a survivor

• Short-term survivor pension to a spouse
• Child allowance to orphans
• Widow’s pension

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