folketrygdens

Folketrygden is the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, the central element of the country’s welfare state. It provides financial protection for residents in cases of illness, disability, old age, and death, as well as income support related to family situations such as maternity and parental leave. The system is administered by NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, with local delivery in cooperation with municipalities.

The scheme was established by the National Insurance Act (folketrygdloven) in 1966 and came into force in 1967, consolidating several earlier public insurance schemes. Since then, folketrygden has expanded to cover a broad range of benefits, including sickness benefits (sykepenger), unemployment benefits (dagpenger), disability benefits (uføretrygd), old-age pensions (alderspensjon), survivors’ pensions (etterlattepensjon), and parental benefits (foreldrepenger).

Funding comes primarily from payroll contributions shared by employers and employees, supplemented by government funds and general taxation to support, for example, universal coverage and specific programs. Rights within folketrygden are earned through residence and contribution history, with certain benefits requiring medical or functional assessments.

Administration and rules are determined by the National Insurance Act and related regulations, and the scheme interacts with other welfare programs, including the pension system and unemployment support. Over time, reforms have addressed demographic and labor market changes, adjusting pension accrual, eligibility criteria, and benefit design to maintain sustainability while preserving income protection for residents.