Being ill in Denmark comes with a paper trail: a message from your employer's payroll, then Digital Post from the kommune, then a form with a short deadline in a system called "Mit Sygefravær". None of it is designed for people who read Danish slowly — but the system underneath is simple. Here is what each letter means, who pays you when, and the one deadline you must not miss.
The letters and messages you will meet
| Letter / message | What it means | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Oplysningsskema (information form), announced in Digital Post | Your case is now with the kommune — they need your information before they can pay sygedagpenge | Complete it in Mit Sygefravær within 8 days of the date it was sent (the deadline stands in the letter) |
| Indkaldelse til opfølgning (follow-up meeting invitation) | The kommune must follow up on every sygedagpenge case — the first conversation happens within the first 4 weeks | Attend, or ask in writing for a new time BEFORE the meeting |
| Partshøring (consultation letter) | The kommune is CONSIDERING a decision — often about stopping payments — and must hear you first | Reply in writing before the deadline; here is how |
| Afgørelse (decision) | The decision on your case, with reasons and complaint instructions (klagevejledning) | Disagree? You can normally complain within 4 weeks — follow the klagevejledning |
Who pays what, when
- Employed: tell your employer you are sick as they require — as a rule as early as possible, and no later than 2 hours after your workday has begun, unless your workplace has its own rules. If you have been with the employer for the last 8 weeks and worked at least 74 hours, the employer pays the first 30 calendar days. After that, the kommune takes over with sygedagpenge.
- Unemployed: register sick on jobnet.dk from your first sick day — it is that registration, not an email, that protects your money. Your a-kasse continues paying your regular benefits for the first 14 days of illness; then the kommune takes over.
- The cap: sygedagpenge is at most 5,085 kr. per week (137.43 kr. per hour, 2026 rates).
The 8-day form: Mit Sygefravær
"Mit Sygefravær" is the self-service site (MitID login) where your sygedagpenge case lives. When the kommune takes over your case, they send an oplysningsskema asking about your illness and situation — and the law gives you 8 days from the date it was sent to complete it, unless you agree otherwise with the kommune. Completing the form is a condition for the kommune to process your sygedagpenge — and the letter always states the exact date.
Cannot make the deadline? Write to the kommune BEFORE it runs out — a short Danish message is enough: "Jeg har modtaget oplysningsskemaet af [dato] i sagen [sagsnummer]. Jeg kan ikke nå at udfylde det inden fristen, fordi [grund]. Jeg beder om et par dages udsættelse og udfylder hurtigst muligt. Venlig hilsen [navn]" — send it via Digital Post, or call the number in the letter and note who you spoke to.
If you do not understand the letter
Sygedagpenge letters mix payroll Danish, case numbers and legal references — hard even for natives. Do not guess: upload a photo of the letter to an AI secretary like Sofia and get it explained in plain English, including what is being asked and by when. Then answer in Danish — short and clear beats long and perfect.
Sick-leave letter you don't understand?
Upload a photo — Sofia explains it in plain English, finds the deadline, and helps you write the reply in Danish. Free to try, no login.
Explain my letterFrequently asked questions
Who pays my sick pay in Denmark?
Usually your employer first: if you have been employed for the last 8 weeks with at least 74 hours, the employer covers the first 30 calendar days. After that, the kommune takes over with sygedagpenge — capped at 5,085 kr. per week (2026). Unemployed? Your a-kasse pays regular benefits for the first 14 days of illness.
What is Mit Sygefravær?
The self-service site where you handle your sick-leave case with the kommune. The most important task there is the oplysningsskema (information form): it must be completed no later than 8 days after it was sent, unless you agree otherwise with the kommune.
What if I am unemployed and get sick?
Register sick on jobnet.dk from your first sick day — that registration is what protects your benefits. Your a-kasse continues paying for the first 14 days of illness; after that the kommune takes over with sygedagpenge.
Can I complain about a sygedagpenge decision?
Yes. A decision (afgørelse) must include a klagevejledning — complaint instructions. For most social-area decisions the deadline is 4 weeks from receiving it. Send the complaint where the letter says; if the kommune stands by its decision, the case goes on to Ankestyrelsen.
Sick leave letters follow your case — but many other Danish letters follow the calendar. See the Danish letter calendar for when the official letters typically arrive.