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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure DK-2022-36/3009 – Updated – measures in Denmark

Cheque for the elderly to deal with inflation

Ældre checken

Country Denmark , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 September 2022 – 10 January 2023
Context Restructuring Support Instruments, Cost of Living Crisis
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future
– Increasing income in general
Author Louise Fabricius (Oxford Research)
Measure added 19 January 2023 (updated 12 November 2024)

Background information

The Elderly Cheque is provided to support Denmark’s elderly citizens as they deal with rising energy prices. The additional financial aid is tax free.

The cheque was paid out automatically in two instalments to eligible pensioners in September 2022 and January 2023 and it is possible for eligible people to apply if they do not receive it automatically.

Content of measure

The cheque for the elderly is an additional financial aid offered to old-age pensioners with a total household income not exceeding DKK 95,800 (€12,861) in 2022. The regular cheque for the elderly is DKK 19,200 for eligible pensioners in 2023 before tax. The additional cheque for the elderly totals DKK 5,000 (€671) and was tax free, distinguishing it from the regular aid.

The first part was paid as a fixed amount of DKK 2,500 (€336) at the end of September 2022, and the second part of the additional financial aid was paid with an additional DKK 2,500 (€336) on 5 January 2023.

Pensioners who were eligible for the cheque according to their 2022 tax returns, but had not yet received it, can apply for the financial aid between 1 November 2023 and 31 December 2024.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

03 October 2024

In 2023 292.000 pensioners received the cheque.

In 2024 the total household income may not exceed DKK 99,200. The regular cheque for the elderly is DKK 19,900 for eligible pensioners in 2024 before tax.

Use of measure

Approximately 280,000 pensioners were estimated to be eligible for the cheque,

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Pensioners

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There has been no involvement from social partners in this measure.

Views and reactions

Ældresagen (The DaneAge Association) has been outspoken about the tight economy for pensioners and is therefore very content with the measure of this act. The Daneage Association would like the cheque to be twice as big.

Sources

  • 25 April 2022: Jyllandsposten: Ældrecheck bør være dobbelt så stor (jyllands-posten.dk)
  • 30 September 2022: Regeringen nedsætter inflationsudvalg (fm.dk)
  • 01 December 2022: Ansvar for Danmark - Det politiske grundlag for Danmarks regering (www.stm.dk)
  • 05 January 2023: Tusindvis af pensionister får udbetalt 2.500 kroner i inflationshjælp (www.dr.dk)
  • 05 January 2023: Anden rate af ekstra økonomisk støtte på vej til 280.000 pensionister (bm.dk)
  • 10 February 2023: Faktaark: En ekstra økonomisk støtte til modtagere af ældrechecken i 2023 (fm.dk)
  • 23 February 2023: Ældrecheck satser 2023 Ældrecheck satser 2023 – et tillæg til din folkepension (www.aeldresagen.dk)
  • 01 November 2023: Elderly Check Rates 2024 (www.aeldresagen.dk)
  • 01 November 2023: Elderly Check Recipients in 2023 Distributed by Regions and Municipalities (bm.dk)

Citation

Eurofound (2023), Cheque for the elderly to deal with inflation, measure DK-2022-36/3009 (measures in Denmark), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/DK-2022-36_3009.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.