What to do if you need social assistance for longer
- First use this calculator (in Finnish) to check that you are eligible for social assistance.
- You can apply to Kela for social assistance for longer than a month. When you are granted social assistance for more than one month at a time, you will know in advance the dates on which it will be paid to you. This can help you plan your future. Use OmaKela to apply for social assistance and to send supporting documentation.
- If you have a regular income, Kela can grant you social assistance for a longer period of time. This applies to such situations as:
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- You are unemployed.
- You are retired and receive a pension.
- You receive a rehabilitation allowance, child home care allowance, maternity, paternity or parental allowance, or sickness allowance. You can apply for social assistance for as long you have been granted the allowance.
- You are participating in rehabilitative work activity or other measure of labour market policy, such as a work tryout. You can apply for social assistance for as long as that lasts.
- You are an informal caregiver on a fixed monthly salary.
- Have you already applied for social assistance for 1–2 months, but your application has not yet been decided? If you decide that you would like your application to cover a longer period of time, contact Kela and ask to change your application. We may call you if we believe that you could be granted social assistance for a longer period of time. Calls from Kela will usually come from an 020 number.
- Once you have received a decision on social assistance, you can pass on to Kela any bills which are covered by social assistance and which are due while the decision on social assistance is valid. See instructions on how to submit bills
- If there is a change in your income or other circumstances, tell Kela about it.
