Kela's tips for the summer

Customer service points’ summer opening hours

There will be some changes in the opening hours of Kela's customer service points during the summer. Summer opening hours will gradually come into force throughout June and end by 30 September 2024. 

Stay up to date with the service points’ opening hours on our website

Our phone lines are open as usual  

Our telephone service will be open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can take care of the same matters over the phone as at the customer service desk.    

Kela's call centre in the Kolta Sámi language is open on Thursdays from 9 to 11 am on 020 634 4795 (closed from 17 June to 5 July and 29 July to 9 August 2024). The North Sámi helpline is closed for the time being. Sámi-speaking customers can also submit a contact request by e-mail to saame@kela.fi. 

Check Kela's phone service numbers on our website

Interpreter service for the disabled

The Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled is open as usual during the summer. However, the opening hours of the remote service will change between 24 June to 2 August, with the service available Monday-Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.

You can also check the opening hours and phone numbers for the Interpreter service for the disabled on our website

Take care of your Kela affairs online, anytime

You can do most things online: apply for benefits, look up a decision, check the date of payment, submit supporting documents and send or read messages through the Kela e-service.

Log in to the OmaKela e-service (in Finnish and Swedish)

Our online chatbot is available 24/7 to assist you with Kela-related inquiries, including social assistance, housing allowance, student support, and family benefits. 

You can also contact us on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

Other points of contact

If you cannot take care of your Kela affairs online or over the phone and the nearest Kela service point is closed, you can get help elsewhere. In many places there are service points that are operated jointly by several authorities, and they provide general advice in Kela-related matters.

Advice for Kela-related matters is also provided by for instance Ohjaamo and Lähitori guidance centres and service centres. 

Kela’s remote service is also available in many locations, in other words, a computer through which you can contact a customer service specialist from Kela via a video and audio connection. The remote service is comparable to service at one of Kela’s customer service points.

Travelling is not an obstacle to having your Kela affairs in order. We put together 6 handy tips to help you ensure that you have the financial security to make the most of your summer.

• Use the OmaKela e-service or give us a call. You can also do it while you are travelling.
• Register your phone number with us so we can also reach you wherever you are. You can do this in the OmaKela e-service on the page Update your personal data (Päivitä omia tietojasi).
• If you have forgotten to send us a supporting document, the processing of your application may be delayed. However, in that case we will contact you either by sending you a message on the OmaKela e-service or by phone.
• You can check the average processing times and the payment dates for your application on our website. You can check the status of your own application in the OmaKela e-service.
• If you want to visit a service point, check the opening hours on our website first. The opening hours of the service points may change for the summer season, while some service points shut for the summer entirely.

• Get your Kela affairs in order before the holidays if you can. There is often a backlog in the processing of applications at the end of July and August, when the holidays are coming to an end. 

If you prefer, you can give up paper documents by reporting this to us via the OmaKela e-service. When you give up paper documents, you will be informed about your decision quicker than by ordinary mail.

Do as follows if you wish to give up paper documents

Kela will process applications for benefits in the summer as normal. However, sometimes Kela receives so many applications that processing times may be longer than usual.   

Some applications will be processed faster than the average while others will take longer.

You can check the average processing times here

A longer-than-average processing time is often due to the application missing relevant information or documents which is requested from the applicant. If Kela needs more information or attachments from you to process your application, Kela will call you or send you a message to the OmaKela e-service.

You can easily check the status of your own application in OmaKela. In the OmaKela e-service, you can also send messages to Kela and attach the necessary documents to your application electronically.   

You can also send the supporting documents via post to Kela, P.O. Box 10, 00056 KELA.

New student

Are you starting university? Congratulations and good luck with your studies! Remember to apply for the study grant well in advance. The processing times for student benefits and other applications may be longer than usual due to the high traffic in applications during late summer.

Check out Kela’s tips for new students

Continuing studies

Check out our student guide for peace of mind during the summer.

Making the most of your summer: Tips for students

If your situation or income changes during the summer, remember to inform Kela. This will ensure that you receive the correct amount of support and avoid possible overpayment recovery later.