Effects of amendments to the Sickness Benefits Act

This study examines how the 2005 Sickness Benefits Act has been implemented in practice by Danish municipalities as well as the consequences of this. The study is based on two comparable data-collections from 2002 and 2006. Data comprises telephone interviews with people whose sickness-benefits case has been finalised, administrative register data, case processing information on the individual sickness-benefits case, and information on municipal sickness-benefits administrative practices. The study shows that municipalities have conducted far more follow-up interviews with sick-listed persons than previously. Moreover, the interviews are helping more people back to work than was previously the case and the follow-up plans have greater job focus. The diagnosis is significant for the sick-listed person’s chances of returning to the labour market. Sick-listed persons suffering from cancer and stress have greater chances at returning to work than sick-listed persons with musculoskeletal disorders.