Spouse- and carer benefits

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 household members.

General information

You can apply for a spouse's and caregiver's allowance if you have to:

• reduce the number of jobs,

• quit work to care,

• suffered a loss of income due to care.

The person receiving care must be paid:

• rehabilitation pension,

• disability pension or disability allowance,

• old-age pension.

Conditions

A person providing care must meet the following conditions:

• be the sole caregiver of an individual,

• registered at the same legal domicile (same residential address) as the person in need of care,

• may not receive pension payments from TR,

• must be able to demonstrate that income has decreased or has been eliminated due to care,

• care must be provided in Iceland,

• combined income plus spouse and care allowance must be lower than 765.431 ISK before tax per month.

The amount of the spouse and care benefits

The amount is 211.859 ISKper month.

Income from employment and spouse and care benefits must be lower than 765.431 ISK before tax per month, which is the criterion when the right to an old-age pension at the TR is cancelled.

A right is terminated or suspended

The right to benefits for spouses and carers shall be suspended or shall not be available if the applicant:

• becomes a pensioner,

• receives payments from a pension fund,

• has unemployment benefits,

• is in full education,

• does not have the same legal domicile as the person in need of care,

• cannot demonstrate a loss of income,

• has income that exceeds the threshold.

In addition, the person in need of care may not:

• have a NPA in force,

• be in day care during daytime hours.