The Danish state pension, explained
Folkepension is two parts, each on its own rule: a flat base amount (grundbeløb) that no income reduces, and a supplement (pensionstillæg) tapered by the household’s combined income. This page describes both parts and links to the pension age and the size of the amounts, with the legal basis beside each figure.
Two parts, two rules
Folkepension is ONE benefit, but it is made of a base amount (grundbeløb) and a supplement (pensionstillæg), each on its own rule. The base amount is a flat rate no income reduces. The supplement is tapered by a flat percentage of the whole household's income basis — there is no threshold before the taper starts.
Legal basis: § 12, stk. 1, and § 49, stk. 1, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
The base amount
The base amount is 75.924 kr. a year (consolidation in force from 30.10.2024 (open — no stated end)) — the same figure for everyone, regardless of household situation or income.
Legal basis: § 49, stk. 1, nr. 1, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
The supplement is tapered by household
| Household situation | Full amount (yearly) |
|---|---|
| enlige | 83.076 kr. |
| gifte og samlevende | 41.436 kr. |
| Household situation | Taper on the whole income basis |
|---|---|
| enlige pensionister | 30,9 % |
| pensionister, hvis ægtefælle eller samlever ikke har ret til social pension | 32,0 % |
| pensionister, hvis ægtefælle eller samlever også har ret til social pension | 16,0 % |
| samlevende pensionister, der betragtes som enlige, jf. § 29, stk. 2 | 32,0 % |
Notice: there are FOUR taper rates against only TWO full amounts. A married claimant whose spouse or partner does NOT themselves draw a social pension is tapered at 32.0%; a married claimant whose spouse or partner DOES draw one is tapered at only 16.0% — off the same full 'married and cohabiting' amount. The rate depends not just on being married, but on the partner's own pension status.
Legal basis: § 49, stk. 1, nr. 2, and § 31, stk. 1, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
The income basis
The supplement is tapered against the claimant's — and, where applicable, their spouse or partner's — personal income, plus positive capital and share income above a small exempt slice, rounded down to the nearest 100 kr.
Legal basis: § 29, stk. 1 and stk. 6, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
When folkepension is payable
The state pension age rises gradually by birth date. See the pension age by birth date · see the size of the base amount and the supplement
Legal basis: § 1 a, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
No route to draw earlier
There is no route to draw folkepension before reaching the state pension age. The Act instead offers the opposite: DEFERRING the claim (opsat pension) for a later, increased payment — a separate scheme this page does not describe.
Legal basis: § 12, stk. 1, and Kapitel 2 a, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)
No further guarantee layer
Unlike, say, Sweden's garantipension or Norway's garantipensjon, there is no separate, further minimum layered on top of folkepension. The base amount and the supplement TOGETHER are the whole residence-based benefit.
Legal basis: § 12, stk. 1, and Kapitel 4, Pensionsloven (LBK nr. 1123 af 21. oktober 2024)