Spouse- and carer benefits for adults

The spouse and care benefits are intended to cover the loss of income for an individual who has to reduce his or her work or stop working because of the care of a spouse or other adult household members.

Please note that information about childcare allowance for chronically ill and disabled children can be found here.

General information

You can apply for spousal and care benefits if care for a spouse or other household member has led to:

• loss of income,

or

• no income.

The individual receiving care must be receiving monthly payments of:

• disability pension,

• disability grant,

• sickness and rehabilitation benefits

or

• old-age pension.

Conditions

An individual providing care must meet the following conditions:

• Be registered at the same legal domicile (same residential ID number) as the person requiring care,

• Must not receive pension payments or new medical- and rehabilitation allowance from TR,

• Must be able to demonstrate that their income has decreased or been lost due to providing care,

• The care must take place in Iceland,

• Combined income, including spousal and care benefits, must not exceed the income threshold for spousal and care benefits, 856.085 ISK, before tax per month.

A right is terminated or suspended

Entitlement to spouse's and childcare allowance ceases or does not exist if the applicant:

• Receives disability pension, old-age pension or medical and rehabilitation allowance,

• Cannot demonstrate loss of income or lack of income due to caregiving. When assessing loss of income/lack of income, changes in the caregiver's circumstances are taken into account, among other things.

• Receives unemployment benefits.

• Is in full-time education.

When assessing entitlement, consideration is also given to:

• Whether the person requiring care has a valid NPA (user-controlled personal assistance) agreement.

• Whether the person requiring care attends day care.

Amount of spousal and childcare benefits

The amount is 250.170 ISK per month.

Employment income and spouse's and carer's benefits may not exceed the income threshold for spouse's and carer's benefits 856.085 ISK which is the threshold at which the right to an old-age pension from TR is forfeited.