Denmark Drops Plan to Tighten Senior Pension Rules

Denmark dropped plans to tighten senior pension rules. Older workers keep their existing early retirement rights.

Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen announced the decision on Tuesday. Strong political opposition forced the government to withdraw the plan.

The proposed changes were part of the 2027 draft budget. The government aimed to save 800 million Danish kroner by 2030.

Under the proposal, applicants needed to show limited work ability across all jobs. They had to prove a maximum capacity of 15 hours weekly.

Currently, evaluation applies only to the applicant's recent job. In 2026, a single person receives 22,053 Danish kroner monthly.

Five political parties created the pension agreement in 2019. Any change requires approval from all signed parties. Opposition parties rejected the proposal.

Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard must now cover the budget gap. Government spending priorities will change during budget negotiations.