Eligibility

Persons who are covered under the Finnish social security system are eligible for disability allowance. One prerequisite for this is that you have lived in Finland or another EU or EEA country or Switzerland for at least three years.

The following questions can help you assess whether you may be entitled to disability allowance:

1. Do you have a disability or chronic illness that has been diagnosed by a doctor?
2. Has your functional ability been impaired for at least a year, or will it be impaired for at least a year?
3. Does the disability or illness make it more difficult to cope with work or studies or activities of daily living?
4. Do you need assistance, guidance or supervision for instance

   • with mobility or with use of assistive devices
   • when getting dressed, with personal hygiene or when going to the toilet
   • when eating
   • in seeing, hearing or speaking
   • in remembering things
   • with treatment procedures or medication?
5. Do you receive, or do you fell that you need, outside assistance, such as home help, cleaning help, home health care, meal service, personal assistant or help from a relative?
6. Does the disability or illness cause extra costs, such as costs for home help, home health care or assisted living?

Situations vary individually

If you answered ‘yes’ to at least three questions, you may be entitled to disability allowance. However, these questions are only indicative. Every person’s situation is different. Therefore the granting of the allowance is determined from case to case.

Disability allowance or care allowance for pensioners?

If you are retired you cannot be granted disability allowance. However, you can be granted care allowance for pensioners. If you draw a part-time pension you can be granted disability allowance. You do not have to know which benefit you may be entitled to. Kela processes your application according to the benefit you are entitled to.

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