The ATP pension is one of the basic pillars of the Danish pension system

ATP’s role in the pension system is clear: To provide basic financial security together with the state pension with a guaranteed and fixed benefit for life. No matter how old one gets.

ATP is part of the basic amount provided to pensioners in the Danish pension system. More than 35 per cent of pensioners in Denmark have only their state pension and payment from ATP to finance their life as a pensioner. The labour market pensions that have grown for the people in active employment in Denmark over the past 20 years are non-existent for almost half of all current pensioners.

Together with the state pension, ATP Livslang Pension (Lifelong Pension) is the supporting pillar of the Danish pension system. The Danish pension system is built on three pillars: ATP Livslang Pension (Lifelong Pension) and the state pension, labour market pensions based on collective agreements and voluntary private pensions.

And this is where the ATP scheme that has been adopted by law is valuable - both for a lot of people in Denmark and for society at large. This is because the public pensions - the ATP and state pensions - play a far greater role in the finances of pensioners than the public debate seems to understand, both now and into the far future.