If you have a disability or permanent functional impairment that makes it difficult to perform certain tasks in your job, personal assistance may be the solution. The scheme gives you the opportunity to receive practical help or personal support so you can perform your work on equal terms with others.
Personal assistance is one of the most flexible disability support schemes. It can be tailored precisely to your needs and work situation. Whether you need help with physical tasks, interpretation, or personal support, the scheme can be customized to you.
The best part of the scheme? It's free for you. The company receives a subsidy to pay for the assistant, so your disability does not become a financial barrier to employment.
What is personal assistance?
Personal assistance means you receive help from another person to perform certain tasks in your work. These are tasks you cannot do yourself due to your disability but are necessary for you to do your job.
The assistant does not take over your work – the assistant helps you to be able to do it yourself. The difference is important: You are still the one with the skills and responsibility for the task.
Types of personal assistance
Personal assistance can take many forms depending on your needs:
- Practical help with specific tasks: For example, carrying heavy items, fetching materials, arranging practical matters, or helping with physical tasks you cannot perform.
- Interpretation: Sign language interpretation, written interpretation, or other forms of communication support if you have hearing impairment.
- Personal support: Help with structure, planning, social navigation at the workplace, or other forms of cognitive support.
- Secretarial help: Help reading, writing, or handling documents if you have difficulty with these tasks.
Example: Peter has reduced vision and works as a consultant. He has a personal assistant who helps him read physical documents and navigate unfamiliar surroundings at client meetings. Peter still does all the consulting work himself – the assistant just compensates for his visual impairment.
Who can receive personal assistance?
You may be covered by the scheme if you are:
- Regularly employed in a company: You have a normal job under standard employment conditions.
- In a flexjob: You work with accommodations and reduced hours.
- Self-employed: You run your own business.
- In a work trial: You are testing your opportunities at a workplace.
- In wage-subsidized employment: You are employed with a subsidy for your employer.
The scheme thus covers broadly. Regardless of what type of employment you have or are considering, personal assistance may be an option.
Requirements for receiving personal assistance
There are two basic requirements, both of which must be met:
- Permanent and significant functional impairment: Your functional impairment must be permanent – meaning it is not of a temporary nature like a broken arm that heals.
- Significant barrier in the specific job: The functional impairment must cause a concrete barrier in precisely the job you have or are seeking. It is not enough to have a general functional impairment – it must affect your ability to perform specific tasks.
The assessment is always specific to your situation, your specific job, and the specific tasks you have difficulty performing.
Who can be your assistant?
Your personal assistant can be:
- A colleague at the workplace: An employee in the company can have hours freed up to assist you. This can be practical because the colleague knows the workplace and culture.
- A person from outside: You can also have an assistant who comes from outside and solely has the task of assisting you. This may be relevant if your needs are more extensive.
Which solution works best depends on your situation, your needs, and the workplace's possibilities. It is typically discussed with the Jobcenter (Danish employment office) as part of the allocation.
How many hours can you receive?
The number of assistance hours is allocated based on a specific assessment of your needs. There is no fixed maximum – it's about what is necessary for you to perform your work.
The Jobcenter assesses your needs based on:
- Which tasks you need help with
- How often these tasks occur
- How long they take
- Whether there are other solutions that can supplement
The allocation can always be reassessed if your needs change – for example, if you get new tasks or your functional impairment develops.
How to apply for personal assistance
The process for applying for personal assistance is fairly straightforward:
- Contact your caseworker: Talk to your caseworker at the Jobcenter. Explain your situation, your job, and the tasks you have difficulty performing.
- Specific assessment: The Jobcenter assesses your needs. They may ask for documentation of your functional impairment and will typically discuss the situation with you and possibly your employer.
- Allocation: If you meet the requirements, you will receive an allocation for a number of hours per week.
- Agreement with employer: An agreement is made about how the scheme should work in practice at your workplace.
Tip: Prepare for the meeting with your caseworker. Write a list of the specific tasks you have difficulty performing and how an assistant could help. The more specifically you can describe your needs, the easier it is to find the right solution.
Combine with other schemes
Personal assistance can be combined with other disability support schemes. For example:
- Aids and equipment: You can have personal assistance AND receive aids if you need both.
- Mentor scheme: During a start-up period, you can have both an assistant and a mentor.
- The icebreaker scheme: If you are a recent graduate, you can be in the icebreaker scheme and at the same time have personal assistance.
It's about finding the combination that best covers your needs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting too long to apply: Apply early in the process – preferably before you start the job. It takes time to get an allocation in place.
- Being too vague about needs: Be specific about which tasks you have difficulty with. "I have difficulty lifting things over 5 kg" is better than "I have problems with my physical work".
- Thinking the scheme is only for physical disabilities: Personal assistance covers all types of functional impairments – including cognitive and psychological ones.
Practical tips
- Contact your caseworker as early as possible
- Prepare a specific list of tasks you have difficulty with
- Consider whether a colleague or external assistant would work best
- Be open to different solutions
- Remember that the scheme can be adapted if your needs change
- Feel free to combine with other schemes if it makes sense
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer refuse personal assistance?
No, your employer cannot refuse the scheme. It is a right you have as an employee with a disability. However, the employer can participate in discussing the practical arrangements of the scheme.
What if my needs change?
The allocation can always be reassessed. Contact your caseworker if you find that you need more or less assistance than allocated. It is quite normal for needs to develop over time.
Can I get personal assistance during a job interview?
Yes, you can get assistance in connection with job interviews and the hiring process. Contact the Jobcenter (Danish employment office) as early as possible so they can help coordinate.
Next step
You now have a good picture of what personal assistance for work involves. In the next guide, we look at personal assistance for education – a similar scheme that ensures you have the same opportunities for further education as others.
If you want to know more about personal assistance right now, you can read more on borger.dk or contact your caseworker at the Jobcenter. They can help you assess whether the scheme is relevant for you.