When are benefits deposited to your account?
Once your application has been decided, Kela will send you a decision notice which will tell you the amount of your benefit, the payment period and the payment dates. Payment dates vary by benefit.
If you are entitled to backdated benefit, it will be paid to you before the first scheduled payment date. Any backdated benefit will normally be deposited to your account within two banking days of the date on which the decision was given.
You can check the following payment dates for the benefits also on the OmaKela front page (available in Finnish and Swedish).
Payment dates of Kela benefits
The general housing allowance is paid out on the first business day of the month.
Housing allowance for pensioners is paid on the 4th of each month or, if banks are closed, on the preceding banking day
- National pension, care allowance for pensioners and disability allowances are paid on the 7th of each month.
- Guarantee pension is paid on the 22nd of each month.
- Survivors' pensions (spouse’s pension and orphan’s pension) and child increases are paid on the 4th (A–K), 14th (L–R) or 22th (S–Ö) of each month, depending on the first letter of the recipient's surname.
- If banks are closed on the scheduled payment date, benefits are paid on the immediately preceding banking day.
Sickness and rehabilitation allowances are paid in arrears and in specific instalments. The first instalment is paid after 6 working days and the second 25 days after that. Partial sickness allowance, infectious disease allowance and sickness allowance on account of human cell, tissue or organ donation are paid in the same manner as sickness allowance.
Pregnancy and parental allowance are paid in arrears every 25 days. Pregnancy and parental allowance are paid in arrears every 25 days.
Child benefit is paid on the 26th day of each month. If the 26th is a Saturday, Sunday, Monday or a holiday, it is paid on the preceding banking day.
Child maintenance allowance is paid on the 10th of each month. Child support payments recovered from the parent liable for maintenance are paid on the 25th. If the scheduled payment date falls on a holiday or a Saturday, the child maintenance allowance and child support will be paid on the nearest preceding banking day.
Child home care allowance and private day care are paid monthly in arrears on the last day of the month. Also retroactive payments are made on the last day of the month.
Study grant and housing supplement are paid on the 4th day of each month or, if banks are closed, on the next banking day.
Unemployment benefits are paid to your bank account every four weeks. Payment is made at the end of each four-week period. The first payment period is two weeks. Payment of unemployment benefits requires you to fill out an unemployment status report every four weeks. Unemployment benefits include the basic unemployment allowance and the labour market subsidy.
Basic social assistance is paid into your account on the first business day of the month. If it is too late to make the payment on the regular payment date, the payment will be deposited into your bank account within 2 business days. Learn more about the payment of social assistance.