Rehabilitation allowance during participation in Kela rehabilitation
You can get rehabilitation allowance payments while you attend rehabilitation provided by Kela. However, the allowance is usually not available for certain therapeutic interventions.
Tell Kela as soon as possible if you are unable to participate in a rehabilitation measure for which you are paid a rehabilitation allowance.
Periods of rehabilitation
If you participate in rehabilitation arranged by Kela, apply for a rehabilitation allowance as soon as the rehabilitation begins. The rehabilitation allowance is paid into your bank account at the end of the rehabilitation period, but you must first provide Kela with documentation about the rehabilitation. Ask the rehabilitation organiser for a certificate of attendance.
Vocational rehabilitation provided by Kela
When Kela has granted you some type of vocational rehabilitation, you can get rehabilitation allowance also for the time when you wait for the rehabilitation to start. You can also get rehabilitation allowance for the time between rehabilitation periods.
You can also receive rehabilitation allowance for so called rehabilitation off-days. Rehabilitation off-days refer to situations where you are unable to undergo rehabilitation five days a week because your ability to work, study or function has declined. Rehabilitation allowance is paid for rehabilitation off-days when you participate in vocational rehabilitation provided by Kela and rehabilitation is arranged 3-5 days per week.
You must also be hindered to work during the rehabilitation off-days and Kela must have determined the possibility to participate in a rehabilitation measure during the rehabilitation off-days.
Vocational rehabilitation provided by Kela in the form of education and training
If Kela has granted you access to vocational rehabilitation arranged in the form of education or training, you can get a rehabilitation allowance for the duration of your studies. Kela keeps track of your study progress. The goal is for you to complete your studies within the period for which the rehabilitation was granted.
Kela checks the information on your attendance and academic progress from the registers maintained by the educational institution. Kela also uses application documents and study plans in the monitoring. Kela can also ask you for further information.
Work while studying
You can work and receive a salary or other earned income while you study (salary or income under the self-employed persons' (YEL) and farmers' (MYEL) pension insurance schemes). If your income exceeds a specified limit (EUR 800 per month on average in 2024), the exceeding part is deducted from your rehabilitation allowance.
For the duration of an apprenticeship agreement, the rehabilitation allowance is paid to the employer. The income limit does not concern wage paid during apprenticeship training. Inform Kela without delay if you start apprenticeship training.
Please note that it is not possible to cancel the rehabilitation allowance in advance or to return it like student financial aid payments.
If you work or are about to start working,
- tell Kela when you will start working and how long you will work
- at the beginning of the term, provide Kela with an estimate of your income for the term and any changes in your income during the term.
Kela will check the incomes register at the end of the term for your salary income. The actual paydate is taken into account. Kela receives also the information from the insurance providers ( income under the self-employed persons' (YEL) and farmers' (MYEL) pension insurance).
If you are paid a rehabilitation allowance for young persons and work alongside your studies, your income does not affect your rehabilitation allowance. During apprenticeship training, the rehabilitation allowance for young persons is paid to the employer.
Rehabilitation allowance during school summer holidays
During the spring term, Kela will send you a letter asking about your summertime studies and income situation. Please reply as soon as possible.
| Your plan for the summer | Your income situation during the summer |
|---|---|
You will have a summer job. | If it is a paid job, you will not get rehabilitation allowance payments during the summer. However, if you are paid less than EUR 800 per month, you can get an interim rehabilitation allowance during the summer. |
| You will have a summer job, but you will also study. | You can get rehabilitation allowance payments. Your pay will affect the amount of rehabilitation allowance you can get. |
| You will study on a full-time basis and complete an unpaid training period which is part of your studies. | You can get rehabilitation allowance payments. |
| You will complete a paid training period which is part of your studies. | You can get rehabilitation allowance payments. Your pay will affect the amount of rehabilitation allowance you can get |
| You will be in apprenticeship training. | If you are paid, your rehabilitation allowance will usually be paid to your employer. If you are on unpaid annual leave, you cannot get rehabilitation allowance payments. |
You will not study, will not have a summer job, and will not be completing a training. | You can get interim rehabilitation allowance payments. |
Submit information about summer studies and continuation of studies
Kela needs information from you to assess your eligibility for rehabilitation allowance during the summer and the upcoming academic year. You will receive a letter during the spring semester requesting the necessary details. Please submit the information to Kela as soon as possible.
- Save the form on your device.
- Log in OmaKela and go to Messages.
- Select Other matters with Kela and Rehabilitation, and name the attachment Notice of Summer Studies and Continuation of Studies.
- Choose the file from your device and click Send.
- When submitting the application in My Kela, it does not need to be signed.
Another option is to print the completed form and mail it to the address Kela, P.O. Box 10, 00056 KELA.