162,000 Danes receive food vouchers despite having over half a million in the bank.

The food voucher is a helping hand for those who have a "special need for assistance," said Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen (S) when presenting the agreement on the voucher to over two million Danes.

- We know that this doesn’t solve all problems, but it hits a dry spot, Nicolai Wammen said.

However, new figures from the government itself show that the food voucher will go to 162,000 people who have assets exceeding half a million Danish kroner in bank accounts or stocks.

- I think it’s completely absurd that the government and the negotiating parties would admit to using taxpayer money this way. If someone has 500,000 kroner in liquid assets, they are clearly not so poor that they need a food voucher to buy groceries, says Dennis Flydtkjær, the finance spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party.

But why should people be penalized just because they have saved money?

- The whole government’s narrative behind this voucher is that it should help those struggling. But I don’t believe that someone with 500,000 kroner in liquid assets is struggling to afford food, Dennis Flydtkjær says.

The Left Radicals are equally critical. The party’s finance spokesperson, Samira Nawa, calls it "wasteful spending" to distribute vouchers to people with substantial assets in the bank.

- If someone has more than half a million kroner in liquid assets—meaning money in the bank or stocks—I don’t think they need a food voucher, she says.

Neither the Danish People’s Party nor the Left Radicals are part of the agreement on the food voucher, which is expected to be approved in the Folketing tomorrow. The deal is backed by the SVM government, the Socialists, and the Red-Green Alliance.

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**Minister: Voucher lands in a dry spot**

Employment Minister Kaare Dybvad (S) rejects the criticism.

- It’s a relatively small portion of the total number. Less than one in ten of those receiving the voucher have liquid assets exceeding half a million kroner. One must remember that even within this group, there may be people who, for example, have received a payout of half a million or more from a work-related injury. They would also be included in this group, so it’s a very mixed group, Kaare Dybvad says, adding:

- Generally, I would say that this voucher primarily goes to people with low incomes or those outside the labor market.

> Regardless of whether there are some smaller groups that also have some money in the bank, I won’t consider it a bad idea, Kaare Dybvad, Socialdemokratiet

But when the finance minister presented the food voucher, he said it was meant to assist those facing high food prices and that it would land in a dry spot. Can one say that about these 162,000 people, who have over half a million kroner in their accounts?

- One can say generally that it lands in a dry spot. And even though there may be some smaller groups that also have money in the bank, I won’t consider it a bad idea because there are many people struggling with rising food prices, Kaare Dybvad says.

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**Pelle Dragsted is proud of the deal**

When the Red-Green Alliance entered the agreement with the government and the Socialists on the food voucher, the party’s leader, Pelle Dragsted, declared himself "proud of having pushed" the government to help "needy citizens."

When asked why 162,000 people with over half a million kroner in liquid assets should also receive a food voucher, he responds:

- Yes, you may ask that. And had it been up to the Red-Green Alliance, we would have targeted the food voucher much more toward those with the lowest incomes and avoided distributing it to people with larger liquid assets. But as everyone knows, it’s a compromise, Pelle Dragsted says.

But no one forced you to support people who don’t need a food voucher?

- No, but we are, in return, very proud to be part of sending a food voucher—a helping hand—to 750,000 elderly pensioners, 250,000 early retirees, and 200,000 students. Far, far most of these funds go to citizens who have been the hardest hit economically, Pelle Dragsted says.

The Liberal Alliance will vote no on the voucher during tomorrow’s vote. Party leader Alex Vanopslagh believes it’s completely absurd to distribute vouchers to people "who can manage just fine on their own."

- It just highlights that the purpose of this voucher is to help some of the citizens with the worst financial situations. The idea is to spread the voucher widely in the hope that voters will then vote for Socialdemokratiet, Alex Vanopslagh says, adding:

- If you really want to create a voucher, it would be better to give a larger one to those who truly need it, rather than distributing it to thousands of millionaires and 162,000 Danes with over half a million kroner in liquid assets.

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**Voucher for millionaire families**

A total of 4.5 billion Danish kroner has been allocated for the food voucher, which will be paid out only once. Beneficiaries of unemployment benefits and elderly pensioners without significant liquid assets will receive 2,500 kroner. The same amount will be given per adult in families where both parents earn less than 500,000 kroner annually.

DR Nyheder previously reported that thousands of families, where one partner earns over a million kroner a year, will also receive a food voucher. This is because the other partner earns less than 500,000 kroner annually and is therefore eligible for the voucher.

Additionally, it has emerged that pensioners earning over 500,000 kroner alongside their pension—such as those who remain professionally active—will also receive the voucher. The only exception is if they have liquid assets in stocks or cash exceeding 350,000 kroner.

In contrast, 32,000 people with an annual salary below 300,000 kroner will not receive a food voucher.

The food voucher is scheduled to be distributed in May and June.

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