Grants

Information about grants available to Efling members

Health promotion

Educational grants

Psychology

Eyeglass prescription

Physical therapy

Prevention grants

Death benefit

In vitro fertilization

Laser procedures

Hearing aids

Health institution

Adoption from abroad

Sick pay

GRANTS AVAILABLE

Here you will find information about grants available Efling . Applications are all made on Efling pages .

To be eligible for grants, you must meet the following:


  • Membership fees must have been paid to Efling on your behalf for at least last 6 consecutive months.
  • If you are applying for educational grants, it is enough to have paid for 6 months out of the last 24.


  • When calculating grant amounts, payments to Efling are examined over the last 12 months.
  • Proportional entitlement is calculated based on the amount of those payments.

  • You must be or have been employed and have paid a premium to Efling when applying for a grant.
  • You can apply for grants for up to 3 months after retirement, or after you stop paying to Efling , if you present a receipt that covers the period during which Efling was previously paid on your behalf.

  • If you have been a member of Efling continuously for 5 years or more and you leave due to age or disability, you retain your rights for up to 24 months.

  • Receipts you present when applying for a grant must not be older than 12 months.

  • It may be that you have right with us if you paid into another union before you paid into Efling , contact us and we will look into the matter with you.
  • You can read more about transferring rights between educational funds here .

Health improvement - physical fitness grant


You can use health efling funding for your own fitness, sports, swimming, dancing and more.

You can also use the grant to buy a bicycle.

The gym, sports club or school you use must have an ID number, permanent facilities and approved teachers or instructors.

A maximum of ISK 23,000 is paid every 12 months, up to 100% of costs.


Attached with the application must be a payment receipt with the member's ID number, information about what is being paid for, and confirmation of payment. If confirmation of payment does not appear on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from online banking or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.


Educational grants


Grants for individuals

You can apply for an educational grant from Efling , to pay for part of the cost of studies, courses, leisure activities or trips related to such education. Educational grants are paid through two funds and it depends on where you work, which fund you apply to.

  • Starfsafl: if you work for a private company
  • Efling's and the Public Employers Educational Fund: if you work for the state, a municipality or a nursing home


Select the fund that applies to you to see what grants are available.

  • Exception to the general rules:
    Members who do not speak Icelandic as their native language can apply for a refund for Icelandic lessons after having paid to the association for 1 month. The maximum payment is 90% for those working for private companies and 100% for those working for the public sector.

Grants for companies and institutions

Companies and institutions can apply for educational grants for courses or other education.

Select the appropriate fund for more information about grants. 

Psychology or social interview therapy


You can apply for a grant for treatments from:


  • A psychologist.


  • A psychiatric nurse.


  • Social or family counselor.


  • Addiction counselor.


  • Coach.


  • MFM food addiction counseling.


  • Art therapy or ADHD diagnosis/treatment for adults.


  • A consultation at Lausnin.


Up to 10,000 ISK is paid each time, up to 15 times every 12 months, up to a maximum of 75% of the cost. 


The grant is awarded for interview therapy with a party who is not covered by the Icelandic Health Insurance discount card and therefore does not pay for an interview with a psychiatrist. 


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Glasses and contact lens prescriptions


You can apply for a grant for the purchase of glasses and/or contact lenses.


Up to 35,000 ISK is paid every 24 months, up to a maximum of 50% of the cost.


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation


You can apply for a grant for rehabilitation and treatment from:


  • Certified physical therapist.


  • Certified medical massage therapist.


  • Health bather (educated from Fjölbraut in Ármúli).


  • Occupational therapist.


  • Speech therapist.


  • Nutritional consultant.


  • Osteopath.


  • Chiropractor.


  • Counseling at a Heart Center


Up to 2,500 ISK is paid each time for up to 15 times every 12 months, up to a maximum of 75% of the cost. 


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Preventive grant


You can apply for prevention grants, which may include: 


  • Cervical and breast cancer screenings. Both basic and follow-up screenings.


  • Cyst examinations.


  • Colonoscopy.


  • Risk assessment by Hjartavernd or another health risk assessment that does not fall under the Social Insurance Institution's co-payment system.


  • CPAP sleep masks for sleep apnea. Also applies to bitten gums.


  • Gait analysis.


  • Diagnosis of dyslexia.


Up to 20,000 ISK is paid every 12 months, up to 100% of the cost.


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Death benefit


Death benefits are paid to the estate of a deceased member. 

In vitro fertilization or artificial insemination


You can apply for a grant for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination.


You can apply for treatment twice.


Up to 100,000 ISK is paid for each replacement, but only up to a maximum of 50% of the cost. 


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Laser surgery AND eye surgery

You can apply for funding for laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, and other vision procedures without the participation of the Icelandic Health Insurance.


The grant is only awarded once for each eye.


A maximum of 50,000 ISK is paid for each eye.


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Hearing aid grant

You can apply for a grant to purchase hearing aids. 


A maximum of ISK 100,000 is paid every 36 months, up to 50% of the cost.


A payment receipt must be included with the application. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank account or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.

Stay at a health facility

You can apply for a grant for a stay at the National Health Institute of Iceland and for treatment at the Blue Lagoon. 


A maximum of ISK 2,000 per day is paid for up to 42 calendar days every 12 months, although a maximum of 50% of the cost is paid. 


A receipt stating the patient's costs and period of stay must be included with the appliation.

Adoption from abroad

You can apply for a grant for adoption from abroad.

The grant amount is up to 200,000 ISK.


Contact customer service regarding documents with your application.

Sick pay

You can apply for sickness benefit after your income has stopped and you are unable to work due to illness or accident. 

Grant for domestic accommodation

You can apply for a grant for accommodation within Iceland.



Up to 10,000 ISK is paid each calendar year.


The application must be accompanied by a legal invoice from an approved service provider stating the applicant's ID number along with information about the date of the overnight stay. 


Please note that the discount does not apply to Efling holiday homes or other unions

Health improvement - physical fitness grant

Educational grants

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