How do changes in income affect Kela benefits?
An increase or decrease in your income may affect the benefits you get from Kela. If your income increases, your benefit may be reduced or stopped. If your income decreases, your benefit may go up, or you may be eligible for other benefits.
A change in your income can also affect the benefits of your spouse or partner, and vice versa.
Different types of income affect benefits in different ways
Income can mean earnings or investment income, income received from abroad, taxable social security benefits, or grants and scholarships. To find out what types of income affect your benefit, check the decision letter you received or the webpage for the benefit in question.
Kela usually recognises income at the gross amount, i.e. before taxes.
If your income decreases
If your income decreases, the amount of your benefit may go up or you may be eligible for other benefits. You can use an online calculator to estimate how much the benefits will change.
When there is a change in the income of a person who is liable for maintenance payments, it may be necessary to also adjust the child support payments. This in turn can affect the child maintenance allowance paid by Kela. If you have questions or concerns about the confirmation of child support, contact the child welfare officer of your municipality.
If your income decreases and you have child support debt, you may eligible for an exemption from payment. Apply for an exemption in the OmaKela e-service or use the Exemption from payment of child support debt LC 1e form (PDF). Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Housing allowance for pensioners must be reviewed if the combined annual income of your spouse and yourself decreases by at least €509 per year (€42.42 per month). Request a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the form Exemption from payment of child support debt AE 1e (pdf).
If you have outstanding student loan and your income decreases, you may be eligible for interest assistance. Apply on form Opintolainan korkoavustus OT 7 (PDF, in Finnish).
Changes in income can affect your eligibility for rehabilitation allowance or the amount of the allowance. Tell Kela in your own words about the change in your income either by sending a message in the OmaKela e-service or in a letter.
A change in income can affect the amount of the income-tested care supplement, which can be part of child home care and private day care allowances. Request a review of the supplement in the OmaKela e-service or use the form Child home care allowance / Private day care allowance WH 1e (PDF).
Your income affects the income-tested additional amount of the continuing pension. Notify Kela of the change in your income on the form Additional amount of the surviving spouse’s pension EV 277e (PDF).
The conscript’s allowance is affected by net income, i.e. the income after taxes. Changes in your income or the income of a family member who receives conscript’s allowance can affect the amount of the allowance. Apply for a review on form Sotilasavustus SA 1 (PDF, in Finnish).
Your guarantee pension must be reviewed if there is a change in the amount of your other pensions. Apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the Application for review - National pension / Guarantee pension E 285e form (PDF).
Your income affects the amount of labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance you can get. Next time you complete an unemployment status report in the OmaKela e-service or on the Unemployment status report TT 2e form (PDF), state that your income has changed.
Your old-age pension must be reviewed if there is a change in the amount of your other pensions. Apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the Application for review - National pension / Guarantee pension E 285e form (PDF).
General housing allowance must be reviewed if your total household income decreases by at least €200 per year compared to the previous housing allowance decision. Apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the General housing allowance AT 1e form (PDF).
The amount of basic social assistance is affected by all income and assets available to you. Notify a change in your income in the OmaKela e-service or use the Social assistance TO 1e form (PDF).