Amount and payment
The care allowance for pensioners is payable at three different rates, depending on the need of assistance or guidance and supervision. Special expenses caused by the illness or disability may mean that the allowance is increased from allowance at the basic rate to allowance at the middle rate. When determining the rate of the allowance, the applicant’s overall situation is always considered.
Care allowance at the basic rate
The care allowance at the basic rate is EUR 83.34 per month.
The allowance can be granted to persons who need at least weekly assistance or guidance and supervision in personal activities of daily living, such as getting dressed or personal hygiene.
The person may need
- assistance or supervision in daily personal hygiene
- assistance when getting dressed, e.g. due to impaired mobility
- daily visits by another person to check that the person has eaten and taken his or her medication.
If the person only needs assistance with household chores or daily errands, care allowance cannot be granted. However, persons who are blind or unable to move are always entitled to at least the care allowance at the basic rate.
Care allowance at the middle rate
The care allowance at the middle rate is EUR 181.56 per month.
The allowance is available to persons who need
- daily time-consuming assistance in several personal activities of daily living, such as eating, getting dressed, personal hygiene or social interaction or
- considerable extent of regular guidance and supervision, such as reminding and urging.
The person may need for instance
- assistance with all aspects of mobility and personal hygiene. In addition the person’s memory is considerably impaired and the person cannot himself or herself take care of eating and taking medication.
- assistance with getting dressed and personal hygiene. The person cannot go to the toilet on his or her own. Due to risk of falling, the person needs continuous supervision with mobility.
Care allowance at the middle rate can also be granted if the person is entitled to care allowance at the basic rate due to illness or disability and has continuous extra expenses every month that correspond to at least the care allowance at the middle rate.
Care allowance at the highest rate
The care allowance at the highest rate is EUR 383.92 per month.
The allowance is available to persons who
- need care and supervision around the clock
- are able to cope alone only for short periods.
The person may need for instance
- to live with another person because the person can cope alone only for short periods
- assistance with almost all activities and spends most of his or her time in bed.
Payment
The care allowance is payable on the 7th day of the month. If banks are not open on the payment date, Kela will make the payments on the immediately preceding business day.
The care allowance is paid into the customer’s bank account. If you are under 18 years old, the care allowance is paid into the bank account indicated by your guardian. The care allowance cannot be paid to another person, e.g. a relative.
The care allowance for pensioners is tax-free income.
The effect of other benefits and income
Other income or assets do not affect the care allowance.
If you receive care allowance or supplementary handicap benefit under the employment accident and motor insurance laws on the basis of the same illness or disability, the benefit will be deducted from the care allowance.
If you receive a corresponding benefit from abroad on the basis of the same illness or disability, the benefit will be deducted from the care allowance.
Special expenses
If you are entitled to care allowance at the basic rate and the illness or disability causes continuous extra expenses, you may be awarded care allowance at the middle rate instead of care allowance at the basic rate. Care allowance at the highest rate cannot be granted on the basis of the expenses.
The special expenses must each month amount to at least the care allowance at the middle rate. Special expenses include for instance health care and medicine expenses as well as costs for home help or home health care.
Disability supplement for war veterans
The disability supplement for war veterans is intended for veterans whom Kela pays front-veterans’ additional supplement and care allowance for pensioners at the middle or the highest rate.
No application is required as Kela is able to identify potential recipients on the basis of their current benefit status. The new disability supplement is provided under the Act on Disability Benefits and is paid out as a component of the care allowance for pensioners.
The amount of the disability supplement for war veterans is EUR 125.79 per month.
The supplement is tax-free, it does not affect the housing allowance for pensioners and it can be granted to war veterans who are in institutional care.