Errors in 33 pct of sickness benefit cases

33 percent of cases involving halting sickness benefits are error-ridden, according to the latest statistics from the National Social Appeals Board.

- This is unacceptable. The right to sickness benefits is fundamental right, and one of the crown jewels in the Danish social security system. But the municipalities are undermining the system, Kirsten Ketcher from the University of Copenhagen - a leading expert in the field - tells union magazine Fagbladet 3F.

One of those who filed a complaint and had the municipal decision reversed is John Jensen, cancer victim from North Jutland. He had no source of income for a year.

1,000 wind up with no income every year
According to the Ministry of Employment, the municipalities halt sickness benefits for 6,200 long term sick Danes a year because there are limits on for how long one can receive sickness benefits.

Three months after their sickness benefits have been halted, 65 percent receive some other form of public benefits, such as cash benefit.

35 percent receive no form of public benefits, and around 1,000 people every year wind up without any source of income whatsoever. This could be because their spouses make more than the limit, or because they have saved-up capital.

According to Local Government Denmark, getting people off sickness benefits is a clear goal for the municipal job centres. Preferably, they want people back on the labour market or in an educational programme.

Translated by Martin Lamberth