Norwegian pension reform has reached a “major milestone” as the first payments under the new system are being distributed, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Tonje Brenna, has said.

The updated regulations impact pensioners receiving benefits from the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) from 20 February 2025.

“The reform will make the pension system more sustainable and better adapted to the labour market," Brenna added.

The public sector occupational pension applies to those born in 1963 or later. From 1 October 2024, future pensioners, born in January 1963, could apply for a pension at SPK, in a new digital solution.

Brenna said that the new pension regulations offer more options and SPK has created “simple and user-friendly” tools that allow savers to test how different choices affect their pension.

“For example, you can see what it means to work at the same time as you receive a pension. Not least, the tools clearly show that the longer you work, the more you will be paid in pension for the rest of your life,” she continued.

“This is an important part of the work for a future-oriented pension system that ensures both the individual a good pension and society a secure welfare scheme.”
Since applications opened on 1 October, figures from SPK showed 537 people have applied for a pension from SPK, 6.4 per cent of the 8,400 eligible individuals.

In addition to this, SPK has been developing a digital solution, since the social partners agreed to a new pension scheme in spring 2018.

Previously, savers were required to contact their employer to withdraw their pension, but the new system allows members to choose to start and stop their pension themselves via SPK’s digital platform. Many members receive an answer to their application immediately, including what they are paid.

SPK CEO, Tomas Berg, said the implementation of the new scheme is the “biggest change” in pensions for public sector employees in over 100 years and is an “important” step towards a more “digitalised and efficient” public service offer, in line with the government's digitalisation strategy.

The pension calculator has been developed in collaboration with the users.
Berg encouraged SPK's members to test the calculator, plan, and understand what choices they have in the future.

He explained that SPK observes that many people are concerned about pensions, as the number of calculations in its pension calculator tripled from June to November.

In addition to this, SPK found that those born in 1963 or later make an average of four to five different calculations each time they use the calculator.

“This may indicate that members understand the flexibility of the pension regulations and are considering different alternatives to see how they can combine work and retirement,” Berg said.

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