Municipalities provide general, statutory social services to residents who have their legal domicile within that municipality.

The services may include, for example, social counseling, financial assistance, housing support, and services for disabled people, elderly people, and refugees.

General information about welfare services can be found on the Multicultural Information Centre website.

Welfare services are provided where the person has legal domicile.

The municipality of Vogar has entered into an agreement with Suðurnesjabær to the effect that welfare services for the residents of Vogar are provided by the family division of Suðurnesjabær.

Information about welfare services can be found on the websites of the municipalities:

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Vogar

Various services are available for those who do not have wage income.

The right to payments from the unemployment insurance fund can be found on the website of the Directorate of Labour

The right to benefits due to sickness can come from former employers, a trade union, health insurance, pension funds, and/or disability and rehabilitation benefits. 

When people are not entitled to payments from elsewhere, they can apply for financial assistance from the municipalities. Information about financial assistance can be found on the websites of the municipalities:

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Vogar

People with disabilities have the same general rights and the same basic freedoms as people without disabilities.

They are equal citizens and should enjoy equal status in the law, equal rights, equal access, and equal participation in all areas of life, without discrimination of any kind.

Information about the rights of people with disabilities can be found on the website Ísland.is.

Municipalities provide services to people with disabilities. More information can be found on the websites of the municipalities:

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Vogur

Protection of rights for people with disabilities provides appropriate support to people with disabilities in protecting their rights and ensuring that they enjoy recognition as persons before the law.

More information on rights protection for people with disability can be found on the website Ísland.is.

Older people are a diverse group of people with different needs.

In Iceland, it is generally assumed that older people have reached the age of 67.

On the website Ísland.is you can find general information for older people.

Information about services for older people can be found on the websites of the municipalities:

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Vogar

Apart from people's right to payments while they are out of the labor market, it should be noted that everyone can seek support from the local authorities.

Reasons why people are outside the labor market can be various, e.g. drug use, other illnesses, or social conditions.

In any case, residents can request an interview with local authorities and request social advice.

Information about the services provided by the municipalities can be found on the websites of the municipalities:

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Vogar

Refugees who have received a residence permit due to international protection generally have the same rights to services as other residents of the country.

Having said that, it should be noted that for the first two years after the granting of a permit, people usually receive services according to an agreement that the government makes with certain municipalities, that service is usually referred to as a coordinated reception service for refugees.

This refers to the fact that services have been coordinated, regardless of the criteria by which people come to Iceland and have their status as refugees recognized.

The goal of a coordinated reception is to make it easier for individuals and families to take their first steps in Iceland and empower them to use their strengths to settle in a new society. Furthermore, ensuring continuity of service and coordinating the involvement of all service providers.

General information about services for refugees can be found on the Multicultural Information Center website.

Of the Suðurnes municipalities, Reykjanesbær and Suðurnesjabær have such agreements with the government.

Reykjanesbær has a contract for services with refugees for the first two years after they have been granted permission to stay in Iceland.

Suðurnesjabær has a contract for services with refugee children who have come to the country without a guardian.

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The Child Protection Act aims to ensure that children who live in unacceptable conditions or children who endanger their health and development receive the necessary assistance.

Everyone is obliged to report to child protection services if they have reason to believe that a child:

     a. live in unacceptable upbringing conditions,

     b. be subjected to violence or other disrespectful behavior or

     c. putting their health and development at serious risk.

     d. have reason to believe that the life, health or development of an unborn child is in danger due to the lifestyle, behavior, or circumstances of the future parents.

Unacceptable conditions can be reported by calling the local associations' customer service. You can also report electronically on the Reykjanesbær website

In an emergency, call 112.

The emergency telephone number for health services in Iceland is 112.

You can also contact the emergency line through their website 112.is. The emergency line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The role of the general health service is to promote the health of the citizens, through good, and safe health services, health promotion and strong prevention.

Everyone is free to choose a health center regardless of location.

General information about health services can be found on the Multicultural Center website

In Suðurnes, there is one health institution and one private health care.

Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja (HSS)  is located in Reykjanesbær. There is also a reception for patients from Grindavík and Vogur. More information on the HSS website.

Heilsugæslan Höfða, is located in Reykjanesbær. Information can be found on Höfði's website

Yes, it is necessary to register at a specific clinic.

General information about registrations and changes in health care is available on the website Ísland.is.

The mission of the Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja is to provide the residents of Suðurnes with general health care, medical reception, health prevention, and emergency reception. 

The core activities of Höfði Health Care are medical reception, nursing reception, infant and maternal care, and prevention.

Information about appointment bookings is available on the website of the Health Institute.

• Heibrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja (HSS)
• Heilsugæslan Höfða

Information on the fee schedule of the Suðurnes Health Institute (HSS) can be found on the Sjúkratrygging website at Ísland.is under Medical services.

Information about Höfði's healthcare tariff is on their website.

General information about the health care co-payment system can be found at Ísland.is.

Everyone has the right to emergency services in Iceland.

Everyone who has had legal residence in Iceland for six consecutive months is covered by health insurance.

If you have been granted international protection in Iceland you will be insured as soon as the permit is granted.

Iceland's health insurance determines whether citizens of EEA and EFTA countries have the right to transfer their health insurance rights to Iceland.

People can choose their own dentist.

An overview of working dentists can be found on the website of the Dental Association of Iceland.

General information about dental health can also be found on Heilsuvera's website.

 You can find dentists who work in Suðurnes on the website of the Icelandic Dental Association by clicking on Suðurland. 

Parents are encouraged to make an appointment for the first dental examination when the child is two years old.

It is necessary to brush children's teeth at least twice a day, after breakfast and before bed.

Preschool-age children need adult help when brushing their teeth.

Information about children's dentistry can be found on Heilsuvera's website.

Regular check-ups increase the chances of healthy teeth.

Information about the importance of dental health is available on Heilsuveru's website.

Dentists have their own tariff.

General information about the governmental co-payment for dentistry can be found at Ísland.is.

Regular exercise is important to maintain physical and mental fitness and well-being.

Realistic goals, a reasonable increase in strain, and good use of the body are examples of things that characterize exercise as a form of fitness.

General recommendations regarding exercise for adults can be found on Heilsuvera's website.

Fristundir.is is a website that the municipalities in Suðurnes jointly own.

There you can find entertainment and the availability of sports and leisure activities available in Suðurnes.

It is possible to filter the information based on where the entertainment is offered and for what age.

Residents are encouraged to go swimming. It's both fun and good for everyone.

There are six public swimming pools in Suðurnes.

Information about the swimming pools can be found on the websites of the municipalities.

• Reykjanesbær
• Suðurnesjabær
• Grindavík
• Vogar 

Most pools also have a Facebook page.

Violence can take many forms and is unacceptable in all of its forms. Violence can appear as:

• Mental and social violence
• Bullying
• Domestic violence
• Gender-based violence
• Violence in intimate partner relationships
• Social violence
• Child neglect
• Violence during pregnancy

All types of violence is serious, the types of violence are:

• Physical violence
• Mental violence
• Sexual violence
• Digital violence
• Financial violence

In an emergency, always call 112

You can get help at the emergency reception of Landsspítali and at all medical institutions.

In social services and child protection services of the municipalities.

From school administators and teachers. 

There are several non-governmental organizations that help victims of violence, for example:

• Bergið Headspace
• Heimili og skóli - landsamtök foreldra
• Heimilisfriður
• Red cross helpline 1717
• Kvennaathvarfið - Womens shelter
• Sjónarhóll
• Stígamót

In addition, there are numerous independent professionals who provide treatment. Sometimes unions subsidize such treatment.