– what does workplace injury insurance cover in cases of occupational disease?
After an occupational disease, financial questions often arise. Who covers the costs of doctors and treatment? What happens to my loss of income? Here you will find an overview of what compensation you may be entitled to after an occupational disease caused by your work.
If you have developed an occupational disease at work, you are entitled to compensation for all expenses you have incurred and will incur as a result of the illness. You are also entitled to compensation for loss of income through workplace injury insurance. Loss of income is assessed individually in each case. Which expenses may be covered depends on your needs, the type of illness, and the income you would have earned without the occupational disease.
Contact us for a free assessment of your case
Compensation items in occupational disease cases
Read more about your rights in occupational disease cases here.
No two cases are the same, and there will always be discussions with the insurance company regarding compensation for occupational disease. Common issues include determining your actual financial loss, the extent of the occupational disease, and whether there are other causes of your condition and symptoms. Your compensation claim will depend on your education, occupation, income situation, family situation and the type of occupational disease. We have extensive experience with such assessments and can help clarify what compensation you may be entitled to.
Many people ask for a calculator to estimate compensation. Because each case requires individual assessment—for example your level of income and the number of years affected—the result is rarely accurate. There will always be discussions with the insurance company about which figures should be included. This makes calculations uncertain. We recommend contacting a lawyer who can ensure that the correct figures and assumptions are used, so that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
Coverage of expenses in occupational disease cases
You are entitled to reimbursement of all necessary and reasonable expenses resulting from your occupational disease from the insurance company. First, you should check what is covered by public benefits. We can assist you with this, but you must apply yourself. We will then claim the remaining amount from the insurance company. Public coverage typically includes doctors, treatment, transport and medication required due to the occupational disease, although some expenses may not be covered.
We recommend that you keep all receipts. What may seem like a small amount at the time can quickly become significant if your symptoms persist over time.
You must submit receipts to Helfo within six months to receive reimbursement.
You can find application forms and more information here: Helsenorge
Legal costs
You are entitled to have necessary and reasonable legal costs covered through workplace injury insurance if you have developed an occupational disease. As a general rule, this means that all legal expenses will be covered.
Loss of income in occupational disease cases
You are entitled to compensation for loss of income from the insurance company. This normally arises after the sickness benefit period if you are unable to return to full employment. You may also have earlier loss of income if you previously had overtime income, additional work, or earned more than 6G (approx. NOK 744,000).
If you are unable to return to full employment, you are also entitled to compensation for future loss of income (general compensation). In occupational disease cases, this is typically calculated using standardised principles.
Most people need assistance to calculate income loss correctly. Insurance companies are experienced in this field, so we recommend that you seek help from specialists.
Compensation for permanent injury
If your occupational disease results in permanent medical effects, you may be entitled to compensation for permanent injury from both NAV and the insurance company.
This compensation is awarded when the disease results in permanent medical disability. It compensates for reduced quality of life (non-financial loss). The degree of disability determines the level of compensation and is assessed by a doctor.
The compensation is calculated as a percentage of the National Insurance basic amount (G). This differs from financial loss, which is based on actual income and expenses. You may be entitled to compensation for permanent injury even if you are able to work and have no loss of income. We can help assess whether this applies to your case.
If the conditions are met, you are entitled to compensation for permanent injury from both NAV and the insurance company. You must apply for compensation from NAV yourself in order to receive payment. To qualify, you must have a permanent medical disability of at least 15%. There are exceptions if your employer has taken out additional insurance coverage.
Read more: Compensation for permanent injury in occupational disease cases
The calculation of compensation for permanent injury is standardised.
You can read more about this from NAV and find the application form here
Loss of household services – occupational disease
You may be entitled to compensation for loss of household services through workplace injury insurance. Due to your occupational disease, there may be tasks you are no longer able to carry out, such as cleaning, gardening or essential maintenance.
Case law provides guidance on what compensation you may receive under this category. The starting point for the calculation is the cost of hiring someone else to carry out the work. We recommend keeping receipts if you incur such expenses.
If you receive compensation for future loss of income, the loss of household services is included in this amount.
Compensation in case of death – loss of dependency
If an occupational disease leads to death, surviving dependants may be entitled to compensation.
Tax on compensation for occupational disease?
Only compensation paid for past loss of income and interest is taxable. This is reported to the Norwegian Tax Administration and taxed as ordinary income. Compensation for future loss of income and other items is tax-free upon payment. Interest payments are also taxable.
Timing of settlement of compensation for occupational disease
Expenses and loss of income are submitted to the insurance company during the processing of the claim. The insurance company determines whether and how much is paid in compensation. We follow up with the insurance company regularly and keep you informed.
As a general rule, a final compensation claim can only be submitted once your condition has stabilised and a specialist report is available. It is often advisable to wait until NAV has assessed your case and whether you are entitled to disability benefits. This usually takes at least 3–4 years. NAV’s assessment is not decisive in the compensation case, but it will carry significant weight.
In our experience, it often takes a long time before the claim against the insurance company can be finalised. Many people find it challenging to deal with their occupational disease, treatment, additional expenses, and communication with NAV and their employer, in addition to the compensation claim. We assist you throughout the process so that you can focus fully on your health and rehabilitation.
Is there a compensation calculator for occupational disease?
No, there is no reliable calculator that provides a complete overview of what is covered. Every case is assessed individually based on your personal circumstances, such as your income with and without the illness. These factors are difficult to account for in a simple calculator.
The calculation of compensation for permanent injury and general compensation (future loss of income) is standardised, but still depends on individual factors. The extent of your illness, symptoms and age are taken into account. Future loss is based on your expected ability to work going forward.
All loss of income, loss of household services and expenses are directly linked to your situation before and after the occupational disease. No two cases are therefore identical.
There are always disagreements with insurance companies regarding the assumptions and figures used when calculating compensation. Incorrect figures can have a significant impact. It is therefore important to seek professional advice to ensure that your compensation is calculated correctly.
This is one of the main reasons we recommend contacting a lawyer with extensive experience in compensation law. This ensures a thorough assessment of your case and accurate calculation of your losses.
