Afgørelse om ydelse
A letter from the kommune or Udbetaling Danmark: what to read first
tap a line — the explanation appears
This is a diagram, not a real letter. Decisions are built alike, but each body has its own wording and deadlines — read your own letter.
Klagevejledning — the most important section
start here if you disagree
This says where to complain and by what deadline. The deadline is fairly short and runs from the date of the letter, not from the day you read it or had it translated.
A complaint usually goes back to the same office — it reviews the decision once more and only then passes it on. The exact procedure is always written in your letter.
Where to get help reading a letter →Every line in turn
- 1The kommune or Udbetaling Danmark?
These are different bodies, and confusing them is costly. The kommune handles kindergarten, school, jobcenter and social support. [[udbetaling-danmark|Udbetaling Danmark]] handles , child benefit and pensions.
- 2Afgørelse
The decision has already been taken. If the top of the letter says partshøring, it is the opposite: there is no decision yet, and you are being asked to explain something by a given date. This is the most important distinction in the whole letter.
- 3Begrundelse — why they decided as they did
The reasoning. Read it carefully: this is where you see which of your data the office worked from. Half of all wrong decisions are simply an out-of-date income figure or the wrong address.
- 4Lovgrundlag
The act and the section the decision rests on. You will need this if you go to a lawyer.
- 5Amount and payment date
How much and when. The money arrives in your — you do not have to ask for it separately.
- 6Klagevejledning — the most important section
This says where to complain and by what deadline. The deadline is fairly short and runs from the date of the letter, not from the day you read it or had it translated.
- 7Who is handling your case
The name of the caseworker and the case number. Give the number in your first sentence when you call — it makes the conversation twice as short.
- 8What you are obliged to report
Almost every decision about benefits has this section: you must report changes yourself — new income, a move, a change in your household.
What to do if a number looks wrong
- You disagree with the decisionDo not write a long letter straight away. First find the klagevejledning and the deadline in it.
- The amount is smaller than you expectedLook at the begrundelse: most often it is an out-of-date income figure or the wrong number of people at the address.
- They are asking for money backCheck which period it covers and why. If it is because of a change you did not report, there are grounds for it; if it is their mistake, it can be appealed.
Related guides
Where this information comes from
- Checked against sources: not yet — this is a draft
- Sources: borger.dk — Digital Post, borger.dk — Søg boligstøtte
This is an explanation in plain words, not legal advice. The final word always belongs to the authority. How we check
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