New figures reveal that over 27,000 foreign citizens are receiving public benefits from Denmark while residing abroad, sparking criticism and calls for review from Danish politicians. The data, obtained from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment, highlights a significant outflow of Danish public funds.

The majority of recipients are from EU countries, with Sweden, Germany, and Norway topping the list. However, the data also includes citizens from non-Western countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Morocco. A substantial number of recipients, 2,391, have unknown citizenship, raising further concerns.

Mikkel Bjørn, a spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, has strongly criticized the system, deeming it “idiotic” that foreign citizens can draw money from Denmark while living abroad. He believes Danish tax revenue should be reserved for the everyday lives of Danish citizens.

While some politicians acknowledge that individuals who have worked and paid taxes in Denmark may have earned certain pension rights, concerns remain about potential loopholes and fraud. Steffen Larsen, a spokesperson for the Liberal Alliance, fears that the system may be exploited, citing difficulties in monitoring recipients abroad and ensuring they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Specifically, he highlighted concerns regarding disability pension recipients and the potential for fraudulent claims, as well as challenges in verifying the death of pensioners living in countries with less robust registration systems.

Lea Wermelin, the acting political spokesperson for the Social Democrats, has responded to the concerns, stating that it is not the intention of the benefits system for money to end up abroad. She has indicated a willingness to tighten the rules if exploitation is found and has pledged to investigate the figures further.