Senior financial and employment benefits in Norway and Denmark

In Norway, senior loans, also known as equity release credits, allow homeowners over 60 to access the value built up in their property without selling or making monthly interest and principal payments. Instead, interest is added to the loan balance and settled when the home is eventually sold, often due to moving to an institution or death. Data from Zen Finans indicates that 97.8% of loan applicants over 60 owned their homes, with over half living on pensions or disability benefits.

In Denmark, senior employment benefits such as senior days and bonuses vary by sector. Municipal employees can access senior days starting at age 60, with the number of days increasing with age. These days can often be converted into cash bonuses or extra pension contributions. For state employees, a senior bonus of 0.8% of the fixed monthly salary begins at age 62, alongside a provision for two senior days per year, though these days must be used within the calendar year or they expire.