General social security benefit

There are plans to introduce a general social security benefit as a new form of financial assistance included in the Finnish social security system. The new benefit will merge several existing benefits into one single benefit and simplify the application process.

The Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government lists the introduction of a general social security benefit as part of its planned reform of the Finnish social security system. The reform aims to create a general social security benefit that would include a basic allowance for living costs, an allowance for housing costs and a discretionary allowance as last-resort social security.

The intention is to have the general social security benefit replace two existing unemployment benefits, i.e. labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance, in 2026. Later on, the scope of the general social security benefit will expand to include other benefits as well.

The general social security benefit is not a universal benefit. It is a risk-based benefit. This means that it is granted for a specific reason such as unemployment.

Single application model

Kela will adopt a single application model in preparation for the general social security benefit. The model will be implemented in stages, starting with a combined application for housing allowance and unemployment benefits.

The purpose of the combined application is to make it easier for customers to apply for benefits and to speed up Kela’s processing of applications so that customers will get decisions more quickly. The application form will be automatically completed with data that Kela has access to. The customer will only need to fill in essential information.

Kela intends to begin using the combined application for housing allowance and unemployment benefits in 2025. Later on, the scope of the combined application will expand to include other benefits as well.

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