Social Assistance
Legal residents of Akureyri have a right to receive services from the Division of Welfare. They employ specialists from various disciplines such as social workers, psychologists, and developmental therapists.
*The services are free of charge and the employees are bound by confidentiality.
The aim of social assistance is to help individuals and families in temporary difficulties. The long-term goal of the assistance is always for the person in question to become self-sufficient. Ways to achieve this goal are e.g. to provide social counselling and various social resources.
Services offered by The Division of Welfare
Advice
Advice regarding financial matters, housing, child rearing, and divorce, including custody and visitation rights, adoptions etc.
Financial assistance
According to law each individual is required to support him or herself, his or her spouse, and children under the age of 18.
Counselors accept applications for financial assistance which must be accompanied by various other financial documents such as a tax return, tax statement, salary statement, and a rental contract. Information is also required regarding family members, employment, housing, income, debts, and property.
*Financial assistance is taxable. For instructions for tax registry, click here
Services for the Disabled
Disabled people and their families can get counselling and information about services, diagnosis and have their need for assistance evaluated. The department can also provide support for families with disabled children. The department handles job-hunting for the disabled, and runs day centers, sheltered workshops, and job training canters.
For information regarding housing and rental assistance, click here.
For information regarding job hunting in Iceland, click here.
Child Protection
The aim of child protection is to insure decent conditions for children while they are growing up, by supporting the parenting role of the family and by using means at their disposal to protect individual children when necessary. According to Icelandic law children are considered to be minors until the age of 18. Staff members from the department inspect the living conditions of children if there is some suspicion that those conditions are unacceptable and use various approaches to improve things, such as counselling, case managers, personal advisors, support families, foster care placement, institutional placement, and financial aid.
For more information regarding child protection services, click here.
For information regarding child benefits and child support, click here.
For information regarding aid organizations in Akureyri, click here.
For further information contact the Division of Welfare
Division of Welfare
Velferðarsvið
Glerárgata 26, 2nd floor
Open weekdays from 09:00-15:00
Phone number: +354 460 1400
E-mail: velferdarsvid@akureyri.is
You can apply for Welfare services online via www.akureyri.is though the Service portal ( Þjónustugátt ).
Use your electronic certificate (rafræn skilríki) to log into the Service portal,
or book an appointment with the Division of Welfare via phone.
*Google Translate available on the service website.
