Making the most of your summer: Tips for students
Whether you plan to spend the summer working, looking for a job, studying or just taking a holiday, have a look these tips that can help you ensure that you have the financial security to make the most of your summer. Once you have all of your affairs with Kela in order, you can start looking forward to the summer.
Summer is fast approaching, yet you still do not have a summer job lined up? See these financial tips for the summer.
You can get financial aid for the summer if you pursue degree-related studies. Financial aid is available in the form of a study grant and as a government guarantee for student loans. It can be granted for example for lecture courses, set book exams, on-the-job-training or for working on your final project or thesis.
Read more about financial aid for the summer.
You can also get general housing allowance in the summer regardless of whether you study during the summer months. However, in certain situations you will have to apply for a review of the housing allowance.
Learn more about the housing allowance review process.
If you no longer receive financial aid, you could qualify for social assistance. Apply for a student loan before applying for basic social assistance.
See when students can apply for social assistance.
Did you land a summer job? Congratulations! To avoid unpleasant surprises, check out the following.
If you receive student financial aid, make sure that your summer earnings do not take you above the annual income limit for financial aid. The limit is affected by the number of months for which you take out financial aid.
One way to check your income limit is to go to OmaKela. You can find out your annual income in the Incomes Register.
There is no annual income limit that applies to the general housing allowance. You must instead track your income on a monthly basis and apply for a review of the general housing allowance if and when necessary.
General housing allowance is also available during the summer, so you do not have to cancel it for the duration of a summer job, for instance.
However, you must apply for a review of the general housing allowance if your household’s combined income increases by EUR 400 per month or more or decreases by EUR 200 per month or more from the time you were last issued a decision on housing allowance. You can look up the decision in the OmaKela e-service.
Read more on the impact of summer earnings on your housing allowance (in Finnish - elämässä.fi).
Kela can help you also if you have graduated but have not yet found a job. Keep in mind the following when you graduate.
Register with the TE Services as an unemployed jobseeker and apply to Kela for benefits. Getting unemployment benefits is slightly different for upper secondary school graduates and vocational institute graduates.
See tips for upper secondary school and vocational institute graduates.
Once you have registered with the TE Services, you should find out whether to apply for unemployment benefits from Kela or an unemployment fund.
More information about benefits you can get during unemployment.
You should also apply for a review of the general housing allowance if you graduate and your most recent decision on housing allowance shows the study grant as your sole source of income.
If you do not have a lot of work experience, remember that finding full-time work is not the only way to enter the workforce. You can work part-time to gain work experience and receive unemployment benefits at the same time. There are also lots of services you can access to find work.
See tips to help you find a job.
If you completed a higher education degree within the specified target time, Kela can pay back part of your student loan as what is known as the student loan compensation. Kela will usually grant it automatically, so you do not have to apply for it.
More information about the student loan compensation.
If you have recently graduated and lose your job or your income is low, interest assistance for student loans can help you make ends meet. Interest assistance means that Kela pays all of the interest due on your government-guaranteed student loan.
Do you still have questions?
Call Kela