"Udbetaling Danmark" sounds like money coming your way — and sometimes it is. But their letters can also mean the opposite: a benefit recalculated, a repayment claim, a request for documents. Here is who UDK is, what their three typical letters mean, and the one duty that prevents most of the unpleasant ones.
Who is Udbetaling Danmark — and why are they writing to you?
UDK is the authority that calculates and pays a range of state benefits — among them housing benefit, state pension (with supplements), early retirement pensions and child allowance. The kommune advises; UDK calculates and pays. That is why letters about exactly those benefits arrive from UDK — in your Digital Post.
The three typical letters
| Letter | What it means | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Efterregulering / omregning (settlement) | Your benefit — typically boligstøtte — has been settled against the household's ACTUAL income. Earned more than expected? You were overpaid and must pay back. Earned less? Money comes to you | Check the numbers: is the income and household correct? If something is wrong, object before the deadline |
| Partshøring (consultation letter) | UDK is CONSIDERING a decision (e.g. repayment or a changed benefit) and must hear you first | Reply before the deadline with your version + documentation — it can change the decision; here is how |
| Request for information | They need documentation (payslips, rental contract, address) | Send what they ask for before the deadline — otherwise the benefit can be stopped or set by estimate |
Oplysningspligt: the rule that triggers most of the bad letters
When you receive a benefit from UDK, you have a duty to report changes — yourself, without being asked. That includes:
- Income — yours or your partner's pay goes up or down (housing benefit and pension supplements are income-dependent)
- Household — someone moves in or out of your home
- Moving — a new home means a new housing-benefit calculation
- Stays abroad — for example, pensioners must tell UDK their departure and return dates for longer trips, and report foreign income
The point that saves you money: repayment claims typically arise because a change was NOT reported in time. Report it right away through the self-service on borger.dk — it is free, and it protects you.
Got a repayment claim?
Do not panic — and do not ignore it. First check the letter's numbers against your own: income, household, dates. If something is wrong, object in writing before the deadline (a partshøring reply or a complaint — the letter tells you which). If the claim is right, contact UDK about a payment plan rather than staying silent. A decision you disagree with can normally be appealed within 4 weeks — the letter's klagevejledning (complaint instructions) tells you where. And if the repayment claim is not from UDK but from your kommune about the daycare subsidy, that letter has its own guide: the friplads repayment letter.
Copy-paste objection template (in Danish — the safe choice for replies to Danish authorities):
»Jeg gør indsigelse mod tilbagebetalingskravet i jeres brev af [dato] vedrørende [ydelse, fx boligstøtte]. Min begrundelse: [fx: mine indkomstoplysninger var korrekt indberettet / beløbet er opgjort forkert / perioden passer ikke]. Jeg beder om en skriftlig afgørelse med begrundelse og klagevejledning. Venlig hilsen [navn]«
In English: “I object to the repayment claim in your letter of [date] regarding [benefit]. My reason: [e.g. my income was reported correctly / the amount is calculated wrongly / the period is wrong]. I request a written decision with reasons and complaint instructions.” Send it via Digital Post to Udbetaling Danmark before the deadline stated in your letter.
If you do not understand the letter
UDK letters mix benefit maths, household definitions and legal references — in administrative Danish. Do not guess: upload a photo to an AI secretary like Sofia and get it explained in plain English, including the deadline and exactly what they want from you.
UDK letter you don't understand?
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Explain my letterFrequently asked questions
What is Udbetaling Danmark?
The authority that calculates and pays out several state benefits — including housing benefit (boligstøtte), state pension (folkepension), early retirement pensions and child allowance (børnetilskud). Your kommune advises; Udbetaling Danmark calculates and pays. That is why letters about those benefits arrive from UDK in your Digital Post.
What is an efterregulering letter?
The yearly settlement: your benefit — typically housing benefit — is recalculated against your household's ACTUAL income. If you earned more than expected, you were overpaid and must pay back; if you earned less, money comes to you. Check the income and household numbers in the letter — if something is wrong, object before the deadline.
What is oplysningspligt?
Your duty to report changes: when you receive a benefit from Udbetaling Danmark, you must tell them yourself when your income, household, address or longer stays abroad change. Most repayment claims arise because a change was not reported in time. Report changes right away through the self-service on borger.dk.
Can I complain about an Udbetaling Danmark decision?
Yes. A decision (afgørelse) comes with complaint instructions (klagevejledning). For most social-area decisions the deadline is 4 weeks from receiving it — send the complaint where the letter says. If you get a partshøring first, answer it: your reply can change the decision before it is made.
If a repayment claim goes unpaid, the creditor can escalate it to the enforcement court. See what that letter looks like — and your four options — in our guide to the Danish payment order (betalingspåkrav).
Wondering when the UDK letters — and all the other official letters — typically arrive? See the Danish letter calendar, month by month.