Entitlement to social assistance

When you apply for basic social assistanceOpens in a new window., your application must include your basic information as well as a list of your assets and expenses. Remember to also submit all requested attachments, and don't forget your account statements, as these are required for all your accounts, including any savings accounts and gaming accounts. If your application does not include any account statements, it will be rejected. Kela will typically process your application within seven working days.

As a rule, Kela grants basic social assistance for one month at a time.

The basic amount of social assistance is meant to cover the essential daily needs such as food and clothing. The basic amount covers the following:

• food
• clothing
• minor healthcare expenses
• personal hygiene and keeping your home clean
• local public transport
• newspaper subscription
• telephone and internet
• hobbies and recreation

For these expenses you do not need to provide receipt.

Social assistance can be granted also for other basic expenses such as:

• housing expenses
• public healthcare expenses
• prescription medicines
• daycare costs
• necessary moving expenses
• costs of obtaining a necessary identity document
• costs incurred by the long-distance parent for seeing the child.

For these expenses you need to present for example a rental contract or an invoice.

See the Kela website for more information on the expenses for which social assistance is available.Opens in a new window.

If you have specific expenses that are not covered by basic social assistance you can apply for supplementary or preventive social assistance. Wellbeing services county may at its discretion, grant supplementary social assistance. Note that you will always first need to apply to Kela for basic social assistance.

Supplementary social assistance can be applied for special needs or circumstances, for example to cover the costs of children’s leisure activities and hobbies, furniture or to replace a broken household appliance.

Preventive social assistance can be applied for instance to alleviate difficulties caused by a sudden deterioration of the financial situation. The purpose is to promote independent coping and prevent social exclusion.