What a bad day to have internet.
this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2024
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Varies greatly by country, but Denmark here. It's not the absolute worst, however getting on permanent disability aka early retirement is a years long process and the government will drag its feet like crazy on it while doing everything they can to find out that maybe you can work after all.
In that time until the government finally decides that you qualify for permanent disability/early retirement, you get to be on long term unemployment benefits which grants you about (at the highest tier, depending on age and living situation) 800 EUR after taxes and bills have been paid. If this can't be reached normally you'll get a little bonus called housing security to get you up there. While on unemployment benefits you cannot have more than 1300 or so EUR in your bank account and assets like a car, or that will count against your benefits. You must use your own money to pay your way first, then you get unemployment benefits. All the while you're forced to go to meetings at the job centre, take on unpaid internships, and send out job applications for as long as it takes the government to move on. Oh, and forget about traveling or going on vacation. You are to be available for "work" at all times, and if they find out you've been gone it cuts into your benefits. Not that you can really afford to travel anyway.
Finally once you're approved for early retirement, well, that's what it is. You get a bit more money from the public pension, the restrictions are gone, and if you want you can even supplement with a part time job.
It physically hurts to know that the US system is essentially identical to any other. It really offers a 1-2 punch to anyone unlucky enough to become disabled. I sincerely appreciate you writing this out, it was eye-opening.
I think the main difference you'll generally see is how much money is given (800 EUR after taxes and utility bills comes out to about 1600 EUR gross depending on one's living situation), and how much certain things are subsidized. At least in the unemployment part of the process. Let's take dental health as an example: this isn't covered by public healthcare, so you get to pay in full for any visits to a dentist.
However, for people on unemployment benefits this is subsidized either fully or almost fully. There's a certain threshold at which you may have to request to have it subsidized, but often the dentist will just send the bill straight to the government. This is of course fucked up in its own right when you consider that if you have a job, no matter how little it pays, the government will want nothing to do with you there. A lot of people with jobs can't afford dental work and get no support whatsoever from the government for it.
As well, once you've reached the point of early retirement or permanent disability, should you choose to take on a part time job it will cut into your benefits if you earn above a certain threshold from the job. However, unlike in the US, doing so gradually cuts into your benefits rather than just shutting it off. And again, all the restrictions from unemployment are gone here. You're free to save as much as you like, travel, whatever.
Ah, I misunderstood the unemployment benefits portion! That’s entirely my mistake. In that case, your system is far and away more reasonable and I apologize. It still physically hurts that disability is horrifically broken in the US but at least it isn’t universal. I hope we’ll eventually achieve something approaching acceptable treatment.