Denmark to increase early retirement benefits and freeze age limit

The Danish government has announced significant improvements to the early retirement scheme, commonly known as ‘Arne-pension’. Starting January 1, 2027, the monthly benefit will increase by 3,095 DKK (at 2026 levels), raising the total payment from 15,650 DKK to 18,745 DKK.

In addition to the financial increase, the government proposes to maintain the retirement age at 64 for the birth years 1963–1965, canceling a previously planned increase to 65. This policy change is expected to allow approximately 7,400 more full-time workers to opt for early retirement by 2030. The Ministry of Employment and Equality stated that these measures aim to provide more security for citizens with long and physically demanding work lives.