You can get Kela benefits when you live in Finland permanently. For example, you may have a job in Finland or have moved to Finland for family reasons.

If you are waiting for asylum or a residence permit, you are not yet a permanent resident in Finland. Therefore, you will not receive Kela benefits.

You can apply for Kela benefits using a form. Fill in the right form depending on your situation. For Kela forms, see here (in Finnish) or here (in English).

You can also book an appointment with a Kela office or a call centre customer service. The office will look at your situation and you can fill in the forms there with their help. If you need, ask for an interpreter. You can find contact details to Kela at the bottom of this page.

Book an appointment at Kela.

Once you get your online banking user identifiers, you can handle Kela matters on the internet.

If you get a job, please report it to Kela. You may no longer need Kela benefits.

For more information on social security in Finland, see here.

Housing allowance

Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) can pay you a housing allowance if your income is small. Housing allowance is intended for housing-related costs.

Kela grants housing allowance to a household, that is, all the people sharing a home. So a household may not mean the same as a family. If a friend moves in with you, he or she will become a member of your household. Then you will get less housing allowance.

In general, Kela grants housing allowance in advance for the coming year. If your situation changes during the year, please inform Kela immediately.

Kela can pay the housing allowance to your account or directly to the account of the person who owns your home. Homeowners often ask that the housing allowance will go to their account. Then the money goes directly to the payment of the rent.

Quick online guide to housing benefits (in English)

Housing benefits (pdf in Finnish)

Benefits for families with children

If you have small children, you may be entitled to child home care allowance. That means that Kela will pay you an allowance when you take care of your children at home.

If you are about to have a new baby in your family, contact Kela. Before your child is born find out what benefit your family can get from Kela.

Quick online guide for families with children (in English)

Benefits for families with children (pdf in English)

When you move away from Finland

• Kela: Moving to or from Finland (pdf in English)
• More information on infoFinland website