Langtidsytelsen

Langtidsytelsen is a term used in Nordic welfare policy to describe a long-term social benefit provided to individuals whose ability to work is reduced for an extended period due to illness, injury, or disability. The benefit is intended to ensure income security for those with persistent work limitations and is typically distinguished from short-term sickness benefits and from retirement pensions.

Eligibility and administration vary by country but generally rely on medical assessment and evaluation of remaining work capacity. Applicants submit documentation to the national social insurance or welfare authority, and benefits are granted after a formal decision process. The duration of the benefit can be time-limited with periodic reassessment, or it may be established as long-term or permanent, depending on the jurisdiction and the degree of impairment. The benefit amount is usually tied to prior income and may be subject to caps, gradual phasing, or integration with other benefits.

Policy objectives often emphasize financial protection alongside efforts to maintain or restore employability. Programs associated with langtidsytelsen commonly include rehabilitation, vocational training, supported employment, or gradual work re-entry initiatives, aiming to balance income support with incentives to return to work where feasible.

Criticism commonly centers on high long-term costs, potential disincentives to work, administrative complexity, and disparities in access or outcomes. The specifics of langtidsytelsen—definitions, eligibility criteria, duration, and funding—vary across jurisdictions, reflecting broader differences in social insurance design and welfare-state philosophy.