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Rehabilitation - guide for professionals

Rehabilitation is intended for individuals who are unable to perform work on the labour market due to accident or illness.

The goal is to regain work ability or increase employment participation.

Rehabilitation pension ensures the individual's support during rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation needs to be fully tried before disability assessment is started.

Conditions

In order to apply for a rehabilitation pension, the person must:

  • be between the ages of 18 and 67

  • have been domiciled in Iceland continuously for the last 12 months

  • be actively rehabilitated under the supervision of health-care professionals

In addition, other rights must have been utilized fully.

This applies to:

  • sickness rights from the employer

  • union health fund

In addition, payments must be stopped from:

  • the maternity or child-rental leave fund

  • the Directorate of Labour's unemployment fund

The applicant for a rehabilitation pension must submit confirmations from the above mentioned parties with his application.

Grounds for refusal

Applications are rejected if the applicant does not meet the criteria. For example, if the person concerned:

  • has not completed the acquired rights from the union's sickness benefit fund

  • has not completed sick leave from his employer

  • has not had a legal residence in Iceland for the last 12 months

  • is not in rehabilitation that addresses the overall problem that led to incapacity for work

  • has not started rehabilitation / is waiting for resources

  • is in such a high degree of education or work that there is no room for the rehabilitation resources that address health problems

  • has completed a 36-month rehabilitation period and does not qualify for an extension

  • has completed a 60-month rehabilitation period

Communication with the Social Insurance Administration

To be informed of the status of an application, the applicant's secret number must be given.

The applicant can find a secret number on My pages

Telephone hours for rehabilitation professionals are weekdays between 10 and 15. Telephone number are: 560 4400 or 560 4430.

You can send e-mail inquiries to: endurhaefing@tr.is

Data should be submitted electronically via My pages or Signet Transfer. Data can not be received by e-mail.

Professional role

The role of the professionals in charge of rehabilitation is to:

  • provide support and advice regarding goals and resources

  • prepare a rehabilitation plan in consultation with the individual

  • establish a time frame for rehabilitation

  • to provide a reference to appropriate rehabilitation resources and specialists

  • seek ways to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible

  • monitor the progress of rehabilitation

At the end of each period, it is also necessary to:

  • evaluate rehabilitation with information on progress

  • to re-evaluate the plan if the improvement in work skills was not achieved during the period

If the individual stops rehabilitation, the professional is obliged to report it to TR.

The role of the Social Insurance Administration

The Social Insurance Administration shall supervise:

  • that the pensioner is receiving rehabilitation

  • that a rehabilitation program is being followed

  • that the conditions for rehabilitation pensions are met

The monitoring involves getting information in the form of a short analysis of how rehabilitation went in the previous period.

The coordinator of the rehabilitation programme shall notify the Social Insurance Administration if:

  • rehabilitation is not carried out in accordance with the existing rehabilitation plan

  • a person stops rehabilitation

Laws and regulations