Applying for a pension

Discuss retirement with your employer well in advance and agree on your date of resignation.

It is a good idea to choose the last day of the month as your date of resignation, as a pension starts at the beginning of each month. In some workplaces, there is no need for a separate resignation, so check with your employer how you should report your retirement.

Your employment contract must end when the payment of the old-age pension begins. If you continue working for the same employer while receiving a pension, you must conclude a new employment contract.

If you are an entrepreneur, you can apply for an old-age pension while continuing your entrepreneurial activities. When your old-age pension begins, you are no longer obliged to pay pension contributions.

The employer arranges pension cover for their employees by acquiring pension insurance for them from an employment pension company of its choice. The earnings-related pension is granted by the pension provider at which you have been last insured or at which you have the most earnings in the last two calendar years.

You should apply for a pension about one month before the planned start date for your pension. Read the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ instructions on how to apply for a pension (in Finnish). 

You can find instructions on the Pension sent from abroad or to another country page if you live abroad or apply for a pension earned in another country.

There is a separate application form for each type of pension. You can use the same application to apply for an old-age pension, disability pension or survivor 's pension from both your pension provider and Kela.

Instructions for applying for each pension type:

• How do I claim my old-age pension? - Työeläke.fiOpens in a new window.
• How do I claim a partial old-age pension? - Työeläke.fi Opens in a new window.
• How do I claim a disability pension? - Työeläke.fiOpens in a new window.
• How do I claim a years-of-service pension? - Työeläke.fiOpens in a new window.
• How do I claim a survivors' pension? - Työeläke.fiOpens in a new window.

You can initiate application for a pension in the Finnish Centre for Pensions online service, which will direct you to the services of your own pension provider. If you cannot apply electronically, you can use a paper form or a printable form that can be filled out online and then printed. The forms are on the Työeläke.fi Forms web pageOpens in a new window..

If you are not satisfied with your pension decision, you can appeal. You will receive instructions on how to appeal along with the decision.

Pension providers and Kela pay pensions once a month. The payment date is usually the first business day of the month.