Are you looking for help with your housing costs?
- Housing allowance is affected by several factors, such as your income and your housing costs
You can get housing allowance if your income does not exceed the income limit for your municipality. Only part of your housing costs is taken into account when calculating your housing allowance.
Read more about the factors that affect the housing allowance. - Calculate the amount of housing allowance that may be available to you
Because there are several factors that affect the housing allowance, the easiest way to get an estimate is to use our calculator.
Go to the calculator. - Apply for housing allowance in OmaKela
You can apply for housing allowance in the OmaKela e-service. OmaKela is available in Finnish and Swedish.
Go to OmaKela. - Remember to report changes in your circumstances
Once you have been granted housing allowance, you must notify us if, for example, you move or if your income or housing costs change. This is to make sure that your benefit is paid at the correct rate and that you do not lose out on any benefit due to you.
Report changes.
What else is going on in your life?
Are you a pensioner?
If you are a pensioner and you have a low income, apply for housing allowance for pensioners.
Are you a student?
Apply for financial aid for students.
Are you unemployed?
If you are unemployed, you can get basic unemployment allowance or labour market subsidy.
When money is tight
If you have a very low income despite receiving other benefits from Kela, find out if you are eligible for social assistance. You can also apply for social assistance for a rental security deposit or an advance rent payment.
Current topics
Changes in housing benefits for students as of 1 August 2025
The majority of students can get the new student housing supplement from the beginning of the autumn term 2025. This means that general housing allowance will no longer be paid to students after 31 July 2025. You can apply for the student housing supplement in the OmaKela e-service in June 2025 at the earliest. The supplement will be paid from 1 August 2025 onwards. The change will not apply to students who live with their child or their partner’s child.
Read more