How does losing your job affect Kela benefits?
Unemployment may affect the benefits you are already getting from Kela.
Register as an unemployed jobseeker
Register with the TE Services as soon as possible. After that you can receive unemployment benefits from the unemployment fund or from Kela. For more information see the Unemployment section.
If you have child support debt and your income decreases, you may be 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.
If you receive housing allowance for pensioners and your income decreases, the amount of the allowance is affected. The allowance must be reviewed if your income decreases by at least €509 per year (€42.42 per month). If you have a spouse or partner, the allowance is affected by your combined income. If your income changes, apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the Housing allowance for pensioners AE 1e form (PDF). Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
A change in your family’s income affects the amount of the income-tested care supplement, which ca be part of the child home care and private day care allowances. Unemployment benefits count as income. Apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the Child home care allowance / Private day care allowance WH 1e form (PDF). Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Any child home care allowance you or your spouse or partner receive is deducted from your unemployment benefit. However, the child home care allowance received by your spouse or partner is not deducted if he or she looks after the child and is not entitled to unemployment benefits on account of providing child care or a pregnancy, special pregnancy, or parental allowance paid for the same period of time. If both spouses/partners are unemployed, the deduction is made from the unemployment benefit of the spouse or partner who receives child home care allowance.
If your income decreases, you may be eligible for general housing allowance. If you already receive general housing allowance, it must be reviewed if your income decreases by €200 or more per month. Apply for a review in the OmaKela e-service or use the General housing allowance AT 1e form (PDF). Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.