What is a free choice system?

If you apply for and receive a grant from your municipality, you can borrow one for free, or you can purchase it yourself with a subsidy. Free choice of assistive device is another way to obtain assistive devices in Denmark, designed to increase citizens' influence in choosing their own. Through regular grants, citizens can borrow assistive devices from their municipality's inventory. With the free choice scheme, you can usually choose where to purchase your assistive device after receiving the grant. It is important that you apply for and receive a grant from your municipality before purchasing a mobility aid. Who can apply for assistive devices?

Municipalities are required to support assistive devices if they:

• Mitigate the lasting effects of your functional impairment
• Make your daily life at home easier
• Is necessary for your work life (if you work)

You must apply to your municipality before purchasing so that you can receive support for the most suitable and affordable assistive device. If you want a more expensive assistive device, you will have to pay the additional costs yourself. Through the Free Choice program, you will receive a tax-free subsidy for the purchase of a Trionic rollator.

How do you get Free Choice?

If you need an assistive device in your private life, or if you use an assistive device in both your private and work life, you must apply to your municipality.

To apply for an assistive device, you must use the digital self-service service at borger.dk.

Municipalities can provide computers and advice to help you with digital self-service. If you have specific circumstances that prevent you from applying digitally, you must contact your municipality. These include language barriers, disabilities, and lack of digital skills.

You must explain how the assistance compensates for your or your child's functional impairment. If this is your first application, or if your functional impairment has changed, the municipality must provide updated information from the hospital or doctor.

Each municipality independently defines the services it provides to its residents. In practice, this means that services and programs vary from municipality to municipality.

Typically, a therapist will visit you at home to conduct a detailed assessment of your condition. They can usually provide you with recommendations.

How much is the subsidy for the free choice of assistive device?

The amount of your refund is difficult to estimate because it depends on the specific purchasing agreement in your municipality. You will only be refunded the actual price paid by the municipality for the assistive device. We cannot provide advice on the specific content of the Free Choice Program or the specific practices of any particular municipality.

Learn more and apply here:

https://www.borger.dk/handicap/Hjaelp-i-hverdagen/Hjaelpemidler-og-forbrugsgoder

Select your municipality and click "Get Started" under "Apply for assistive devices/consumer goods/home improvements" to apply.

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Source: borger.dk

Learn more about legislation:

Services Act
LBK no. 67 of 22 January 2024 (Implementation of the Social Services Act)
Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens