Pensioners call for Danish style senior cheque

Low income state pensioners should receive an annual senior cheque of 26,000 kroner if their assets are below 108,000 kroner, the Pensioners’ Interest Group told Kringvarp Føroya.

The group made the proposal during a meeting with the welfare committee about the energy supplement. It supports a proposal from Sjálvstýri and Tjóðveldi to increase the supplement this year, but says the asset limits are far too low.

The group said the Faroe Islands parliament could introduce a senior cheque or pension cheque based on the Danish model for low income state pensioners and disability pensioners.

In Denmark, low income state pensioners receive an annual senior cheque of 26,000 kroner if they have assets below 108,000 kroner.

The group also said disability pensioners would benefit significantly if they could receive unused disability pension deductions.

It said some pensions are several thousand kroner below the threshold for being at risk of poverty. Since the proposal from Sjálvstýri and Tjóðveldi would increase the energy supplement only this year, the Pensioners’ Interest Group said work on measures for 2027 must begin immediately.