Sometimes the right solution is not a person, but a tool. If you need special aids or work equipment to perform your job, you can receive subsidies or borrow the equipment you need. The scheme also covers minor workplace modifications.
Aids can be anything from special software to ergonomic furniture, from hearing aids to specialized tools. It's about removing the physical barriers that stand between you and your work.
The scheme is practically oriented: The Jobcenter (Danish employment office) assesses what you need and ensures you get it. You don't have to pay upfront – the aid is allocated either as a loan or as a subsidy to the company.
Who can receive aids?
The scheme covers several different groups:
- Employees in regular jobs: You have a normal job and need aids to perform it.
- Self-employed: You run your own business and need special equipment.
- Employees in flexjob: You work in a flexjob (subsidized employment) with accommodations.
- Early retirees in jobs with wage subsidy: You receive early retirement but still work with a wage subsidy.
- Unemployed in guidance and upskilling: You are unemployed and participating in courses through the Jobcenter.
- Unemployed in work trials or wage-subsidized employment: You are testing your opportunities at a workplace.
In short: Whether you are employed, in education, or testing your opportunities, you can apply for aids.
Requirements for receiving aids
There are three requirements, all of which must be met before the Jobcenter can allocate aids:
1. Not commonly found
The aid must not be something that is normally found at the workplace or in the industry. It must be something special that your disability requires.
For example: A regular office chair is commonly found in an office – but a specially adjusted ergonomic chair for a person with back problems is not commonly found.
2. Crucial importance
The aid must be of crucial importance for you to:
- Participate in a program (e.g., work trial)
- Maintain your regular employment
- Run your own business
This means that without the aid, you would have difficulty or be unable to perform your work.
3. Compensates for limitation
The aid must compensate for precisely your limitation in work capacity. There must be a direct connection between your disability and the aid you are applying for.
Example: Anders has reduced vision and works as an accountant. He needs a large screen with special magnification software to read financial statements. The screen is not commonly found (most accountants use regular screens), it is of crucial importance (without it, he cannot read the numbers), and it directly compensates for his visual impairment.
What can you receive aids for?
Aids can be many things depending on your situation and work:
Work equipment
- Special software (magnification, text-to-speech, dictation)
- Special keyboards or mice
- Hearing aids for work use
- Special tools adapted to your disability
- Lifting equipment or other aids for physical work
Workplace modifications
- Ergonomic furniture (chair, desk, footrest)
- Lighting adapted to your needs
- Minor renovations to ensure accessibility
- Screening to reduce distractions
The list is not exhaustive. It's about what you specifically need in your specific job.
How are aids allocated?
Aids can be allocated in two ways:
- Loan: The Jobcenter lends you the aid. You use it as long as you need it and return it when you no longer need it or change jobs.
- Subsidy to the company: The company receives a subsidy to purchase the aid. It then becomes the company's property.
Which solution is used depends on the type of aid and your situation. The Jobcenter assesses what makes the most sense.
Important: You need a specific job
An important thing to know: Aids can only be allocated when there is a specific job or program to base it on.
This means:
- You cannot get aids "in stock" for future jobs
- The allocation is tied to the specific job and specific tasks
- If you change jobs, you must apply for new aids for the new job
When you have a specific job offer or start a work trial, it is therefore important to contact the Jobcenter quickly so the aids can be put in place.
How to apply for aids
- Contact your caseworker: Tell them about your job or program and describe which tasks you have difficulty performing due to your disability.
- Documentation: The Jobcenter arranges to obtain the necessary documentation – for example, medical statements or assessments from specialists.
- Assessment: The Jobcenter assesses which aids are relevant and finds the right solutions.
- Allocation and delivery: Once the allocation is in place, the Jobcenter ensures the aids are delivered.
Tip: If you need aids for a new job, contact the Jobcenter already when you get the job offer – not just when you start. It takes time to find the right solutions and get them delivered.
Combination with other schemes
Aids can often be combined with other disability support schemes:
- Personal assistance: You can have aids AND a personal assistant if you need both.
- Mentor scheme: A mentor can help you get started using new aids.
- The icebreaker scheme: If you are a recent graduate in the icebreaker scheme, you can also receive aids.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting too long to apply: Apply as soon as you have a specific job offer. It takes time to find and deliver the right aids.
- Being too vague: Be specific about which tasks you have difficulty with and why. "I have difficulty reading small characters on the screen" is better than "I can't see very well."
- Forgetting workplace modifications: It's not just equipment – furniture, lighting, and layout can also be allocated.
- Assuming the workplace pays: It is the Jobcenter that allocates aids – not the employer. Apply yourself.
Practical tips
- Apply as soon as you have a specific job or program
- Describe your challenges specifically and in detail
- Consider both work equipment and modifications
- Be open to different solutions
- Follow up on the allocation so everything is ready when you start
- Remember to apply again if you change jobs
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the aids if I change jobs?
If the aid is loaned, you return it to the Jobcenter when you change jobs. You can then apply for new aids for your new job. If the company received a subsidy, the aid belongs to the company.
Can I get aids for working from home?
Yes, if working from home is part of your job, you can receive aids for use at home. The need is assessed in the same way as for the workplace.
What if my aid breaks?
Contact the Jobcenter. If the aid is loaned, it can typically be repaired or replaced. You do not have to pay for repairs to allocated aids yourself.
Next step
You now have a good overview of aids and equipment. In the next guide, we look at The icebreaker scheme – a special scheme for recent graduates that provides the opportunity to gain work experience with a wage subsidy.
Read more on borger.dk, or contact your caseworker at the Jobcenter. Remember to apply well in advance so the aids are ready when you start the job.