How to apply for disability allowance for persons under 16 years

Disability allowance for persons under 16 years is awarded for the child. Applications can be submitted on the child’s behalf by either guardian. The guardians must agree which of them will apply and which account the allowance should be paid into.

1. Apply for disability allowance for persons under 16 years on form Disability allowance for persons under 16 years (EV 258e, PDF).

   • Save the blank form to your device. Do not fill in the application directly in the browser, otherwise some of the information may not be saved.
   • Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
   • Save the completed form to your device. Note that the form must be in PDF format.
   • Continued payment of the allowance and increased allowance are applied for on the same form. Remember to file an application for continued payment in time.
2. Send the application using the OmaKela e-service:

   • Log in to OmaKela (available in Finnish and Swedish). Go to Asioi toisen henkilön puolesta (Act on behalf of another person).
   • Select Tee hakemus (File an application). Select Vammaistuet – tee hakemus (Disability benefits – file an application).
   • Select the application form on your device and press Lähetä (Send).
   • When you send your application online, you do not need to sign it.
   • Enclose a medical statement C describing the child’s current health status (or other equivalent medical documentation). The statement must have been issued within the last approximately six months. Send the documents via OmaKela after you have submitted your application. If they are paper documents, you can photograph or scan them.

   • Please note that each guardian or legal representative of the child can see the decisions and other documents in OmaKela.

Another option is to send the application by mail.

• Sign the application and send it with the supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

You can also hand it in at a Kela service point.

When to apply

Kela can award the allowance retrospectively for a maximum of six months.

To avoid interruptions in the payment of the allowance, file your application for continued payment and related documents in good time. Applications for continued payment of the disability allowance should be filed within six months of the end of the previous payment period. Please note that Kela will need the written consent of the guardian to whom the allowance was previously paid before payments can be switched to the other guardian.

A new medical statement is usually needed for an application for increased benefit.

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