ObjectivesThe Norwegian Government urges that actions are needed to stimulate the working capacity in disability pension (DP) recipients with such a potential. Identification of factors that may impair rehabilitation efforts, such as information on the start of benzodiazepines in DP recipients, may be useful information in this context. Thus, the aim of the study was to describe the association between receipt of disability pension and later prescriptions of benzodiazepines among non-users at baseline. MethodsWe followed a cohort reporting non-use of benzodiazepines, 6645 men and 6455 ResultsIn both gender, the proportion started on at least one prescription of a benzodiazepine was about doubled among those reporting to be on a DP 20 years in the past, 21 % of all men and 29 % of all women, respectively.Univariate odds ratio for a benzodiazepine prescription for men and women on a DP were 2.6 (95% CI 1.5-4.4) and 2.1 (1.5-2.9), respectively, as compared with those not receiving a DP. After adjustment for alcohol, smoking habits, physical activity, socioeconomic and health variables, the odds ratios was lowered for both sexes, being 2.1 (1.2-3.7) (men) and 1.6 (1.1-2.3) (women). Conclusions 4For both men and women the chance of being prescribed benzodiazepines was higher among those reporting to DP recipients 20 years in the past.