If you are not satisfied with the decision on social assistance, make a rectification request

Make a rectification request to Kela’s Appeals Management Centre

If you are not satisfied with a decision you receive from Kela about social assistance, you can ask Kela's Appeals Management Centre for a rectification. Instructions for making a rectification request (in Finnish oikaisuvaatimus) are enclosed with the decision.

See average processing time of rectification requests.

Submit the rectification request in writing within 37 days of the date when your decision on social assistance was mailed to you. The mailing date is shown on the decision. The instructions enclosed with the decision notice also include the date by which you must submit a rectification request to Kela. You can submit a rectification request in OmaKela or on the form TO 5e Rectification request - Social assistance (pdf) or in your own words in writing. 

You can appeal against a decision by Kela’s Appeals Management Centre to the regional administrative court

If you are not satisfied with the decision by Kela’s Appeals Management Centre, you can appeal against the decision to the administrative court in your region. Instructions for making an appeal are enclosed with the decision you receive from the Appeals Management Centre.

1. Submit the appeal in writing within 37 days of the date of mailing of the decision from the Appeals Management Centre. The mailing date is shown on the decision.
2. Send the appeal document and the supporting documents to the administrative court for the region where you live. If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, you should send the documents to the Helsinki Administrative Court.
3. When the regional administrative court has decided your case, you will receive a decision by post. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can apply to the Supreme Administrative Court for leave to appeal.
4. If the regional administrative court has changed or repealed the decision of the Appeals Management Centre, you will receive a new decision from Kela. You will automatically be paid the missing amount of social assistance if the court has ordered that it shall be paid.

Appealing against a decision by the regional administrative court

You may appeal against decisions of the regional administrative court to the Supreme Administrative Court, if the Supreme Administrative Court grants you leave to appeal.

Instructions on how to request leave to appeal are provided by the regional administrative court that made the decision and by the Supreme Administrative Court.