What is Udbetaling Danmark?

Udbetaling Danmark is the public authority responsible for administering and paying a range of social benefits on behalf of Danish municipalities and the state. This includes housing benefit (boligstøtte), parental leave pay (barselsdagpenge), state pension (folkepension), early retirement, child benefit (børne- og ungeydelse), and international pensions.

Letters from Udbetaling Danmark arrive in your Digital Post (e-Boks) inbox. They carry the same legal weight as physical letters — deadlines begin from the moment the letter becomes available, not when you open it. Check your e-Boks regularly.

The most common letter types

Housing benefit decision (boligstøtte afgørelse) This letter tells you how much housing benefit you've been approved for, or that your benefit amount is changing. It shows the calculation basis: your rent, income, and household size. Check whether the income figures shown are correct — Udbetaling Danmark gets these from Skattestyrelsen, but you're responsible for flagging any errors. If you agree with everything, you don't need to do anything.

Annual housing benefit reconciliation Once a year, Udbetaling Danmark reconciles your housing benefit against your actual income for the previous year. The letter tells you whether you received too much (which will be deducted from future payments or billed separately) or too little (which will be paid back to you). All adults over 18 living in the household are jointly liable for any overpayment.

Parental leave pay letter (barselsdagpenge) When your employer registers your parental leave in the NemRefusion system, Udbetaling Danmark automatically sends you a letter with a link to apply for parental leave pay. You cannot apply before receiving this letter, and you have 8 weeks from the start of your leave to apply. The maximum rate in 2026 is 5,085 DKK per week (137.43 DKK per hour) before tax for full-time employees. Payments are made on the last Thursday of each month.

State pension adjustment (folkepension) Your state pension is recalculated based on your expected income shown in your preliminary tax assessment. If your pension is being adjusted up or down, it's usually because your income has changed — for example a new private pension income, part-time work, or a change in household composition. Check that your income (and your partner's, if applicable) is correctly recorded in your forskudsopgørelse.

Child benefit changes (børne- og ungeydelse) Letters about child benefit changes are typically triggered by changes in family circumstances — divorce, relocation, a child turning 15, or changes to custody arrangements. The letter states the change and when it takes effect.

What to do when you receive a letter

Read it carefully, note any deadlines and amounts, and check whether the information used — especially your income — is correct. If you agree, you often don't need to take any action. If you disagree, contact Udbetaling Danmark via Digital Post or by phone. If there's a deadline, act before it, not after.

Find the correct contact number for your specific benefit type at udbetaling.dk.