Denmark’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal (Venstre) Party, Troels Lund Poulsen, is pushing for a review of the country’s disability pension system, specifically regarding “non-Western immigrants.”
Poulsen’s concerns stem from a study by the Danish Employers’ Association that revealed a disproportionate number of disability pension recipients among immigrants, particularly those from Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and former Yugoslavia.
While only 6.6% of native Danes receive disability pensions, over 29% of Iraqi immigrants do, with two-thirds of Iraqis aged 50-67 on disability pensions compared to just 11% of Danes. Poulsen called these figures “striking” and emphasized that “we cannot have one set of rules for immigrants and another for Danes.” He suggested that certain immigrant groups may be receiving disability pensions on “softer grounds.”
In a follow-up statement, Poulsen declared that immigrants receiving disability pensions must be reassessed for their work capacity. He stressed, “If you can work, then you should work,” calling the current situation a “failure” and “human catastrophe” that has drained the system. The Early Retirement Pension program was intended for those with significant, permanent work incapacity, but Poulsen argues it has been too lenient toward certain groups, undermining fairness.
The Liberal Party has raised alarms about welfare dependency among immigrants, particularly in vulnerable areas, where children grow up without positive work role models. Poulsen and his party are now determined to reassess the cases where early retirement was granted, aiming to restore the system’s integrity.
