New rules (children born 2/8 2022 or later)
See the maternity/paternity leave guide and the administrative basis (medst.dk) for details (available in Danish only).
One is considered a solo parent when there is no other legal parent at birth, such as:
- When the other parent has died before birth,
- When a single mother has had a child with an unknown donor by assisted reproduction,
- When a single father has had a child with the help of a foreign surrogate mother, or
- When a sole adopter adopts.
As a solo parent, you are entitled to 22 weeks of extra leave with maternity/paternity benefit, in addition to the 24 weeks of leave with benefit to which you already qualify. Thus, you have a total of 46 weeks of leave with maternity/paternity benefit after the birth/receipt.
The 22 weeks of extra leave must be taken before the child’s first birthday or within 1 year after receiving the child; however, with the possibility of extension and postponement, so that the leave can be taken before the child’s 9th birthday, in accordance with the general conditions and rules on this.
Rules that will come into effect on January 1st 2024
In addition, from 1 January 2024, solo parents will have the opportunity to transfer the non-earmarked part of the leave to a related family member, such as grandparents or siblings. In the case of the death of one parent, it is possible to transfer leave weeks to the parents or siblings of the deceased. The related family member must take the leave before the child’s first birthday.
