New limit for people receiving disability benefits. Check how much you can earn on the side
People receiving uføretrygd will be able to earn more without having their benefit reduced. The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) is raising the income limit from 0.4G to 1G for people who meet specific conditions. The new rules will enter into force on 1 October, but will apply to income earned from the beginning of 2026.
The benefit is intended for people whose ability to work has been reduced.
Fot. Gorm Kallestad, NTB scanpix (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Uføretrygd is Norway's disability benefit. The benefit is intended for people whose ability to work has been reduced, and its amount may also depend on income earned later. The previous earnings limit was 0.4G. This is 40 per cent of the value of 1G, which, at a rate of NOK 136,549, amounts to NOK 54,619.60 per year.
The limit rises to 1G. Not everyone will benefit
The new limit will be NOK 136,549 per year. This means that people who meet the conditions will be able to earn this amount without having their uføretrygd reduced. This is NOK 81,929.40 more than under the 0.4G limit. However, the change will not automatically apply to everyone receiving the benefit.
To benefit from the 1G limit, a person must have received uføretrygd for at least 24 months. The same degree of reduced work capacity must also have applied for at least 24 months. The higher limit does not apply to people in varig tilrettelagt arbeid, meaning permanently adapted work. Those who do not meet the new conditions will continue to be subject to the 0.4G limit, or NOK 54,619.60 per year.
Information about an individual's limit will be available on nav.no. NAV also provides it in the “Din uføretrygd” section, in letters sent by the agency and in inntektsplanleggeren, the income calculator. Exceeding the set threshold affects the amount of the benefit. If income is higher than the limit, NAV will reduce the uføretrygd payment.
If income falls below the set limit again, the disability benefit payment will be increased. The mechanism therefore depends on actual income earned. Benefit recipients must inform NAV about income from both Norway and abroad. Notification is also required when expected annual income exceeds the applicable limit.
To benefit from the 1G limit, a person must have received uføretrygd for at least 24 months. The same degree of reduced work capacity must also have applied for at least 24 months. The higher limit does not apply to people in varig tilrettelagt arbeid, meaning permanently adapted work. Those who do not meet the new conditions will continue to be subject to the 0.4G limit, or NOK 54,619.60 per year.
Information about an individual's limit will be available on nav.no. NAV also provides it in the “Din uføretrygd” section, in letters sent by the agency and in inntektsplanleggeren, the income calculator. Exceeding the set threshold affects the amount of the benefit. If income is higher than the limit, NAV will reduce the uføretrygd payment.
If income falls below the set limit again, the disability benefit payment will be increased. The mechanism therefore depends on actual income earned. Benefit recipients must inform NAV about income from both Norway and abroad. Notification is also required when expected annual income exceeds the applicable limit.
Benefits are handled by NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.Photo: MN/K. Lukina
The changes will cover the whole of 2026. Reimbursement will come later
The new rules will take effect automatically on 1 October. However, they will apply retroactively from 1 January 2026, meaning that income earned earlier in the year will be taken into account. Until the end of September, NAV will continue to apply the previous 0.4G limit. This also applies to people who already meet the conditions for the 1G limit.
Earlier deductions will be settled later. If NAV reduced a benefit based on the 0.4G limit even though the person was entitled to 1G, the difference will be paid in full. This will take place during the etteroppgjøret, the annual settlement for 2026. The reimbursement is to be paid in autumn 2027.
Income must be reported on an ongoing basis. If someone receives too high a benefit because they failed to report changes in income, they will generally have to repay the overpayment. NAV also takes into account earnings in relation to income earned before illness or disability. Exceeding a specified threshold may completely suspend payment of the benefit in a given year.
Uføretrygd will not be paid if earnings exceed 80 per cent of the income level before illness or disability. However, this does not necessarily mean losing entitlement to the benefit. It may be retained as a dormant right for up to five years. This period may be extended by another five years.
Earlier deductions will be settled later. If NAV reduced a benefit based on the 0.4G limit even though the person was entitled to 1G, the difference will be paid in full. This will take place during the etteroppgjøret, the annual settlement for 2026. The reimbursement is to be paid in autumn 2027.
Income must be reported on an ongoing basis. If someone receives too high a benefit because they failed to report changes in income, they will generally have to repay the overpayment. NAV also takes into account earnings in relation to income earned before illness or disability. Exceeding a specified threshold may completely suspend payment of the benefit in a given year.
Uføretrygd will not be paid if earnings exceed 80 per cent of the income level before illness or disability. However, this does not necessarily mean losing entitlement to the benefit. It may be retained as a dormant right for up to five years. This period may be extended by another five years.
The change in the limit therefore means a clear difference between the previous 0.4G and the new 1G. At the current G value, the threshold rises from NOK 54,619.60 to NOK 136,549 per year. People receiving uføretrygd should also monitor their individual limit and report changes in income to NAV.
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