Long-term unemployment

Discuss with an expert at the TE Office or your municipality whether you are eligible for a pay subsidy. If the expert is in favour of the subsidy, mention that you have an opportunity to get it to prospective employers. You can also ask the expert for a pay subsidy card.

If you do not find employment in spite of being eligible for a pay subsidy, ask an expert at TE Services whether you could complete a work try-out. You can find the workplace for the work try-out yourself or ask if the expert can arrange it.

If you start a work try-out and you are eligible for a pay subsidy, tell the organiser of the work try-out about the subsidy. It may help you to find employment in that workplace after the work try-out.

Municipalities offer work, work try-outs and training to people who have been unemployed for several years. You can also ask an expert at TE Services about the opportunities provided by your municipality.

Many organisations, parishes and non-profits such as recycling centres are also often supported in employing people with long-term unemployment. You can also ask an expert at TE Services for information about vacancies and opportunities for work try-outs with these employers. Also ask the expert about employment projects in your region.

If your long-term unemployment affects your life management, you can try to return to working life through a rehabilitative work experience. Ask your municipality or TE Office for information about rehabilitative work experiences. 

If you feel that your health negatively affects your work ability, you must first ask your doctor for a B medical statement on your work ability for the job or work tasks you are applying. After this, present the statement to an expert at TE Services or your municipality and ask whether you are eligible for applying for a pay subsidy based on your reduced work ability.

If an employer is interested in hiring you but would have to purchase special aids or make other changes or arrangements to the workplace, they can apply to the TE Office for a subsidy for arranging working conditions. 

If you are unable to work in your previous job, you can find a new profession with the help of vocational rehabilitation. For example, this rehabilitation may include training, a work try-out or job coaching. During the rehabilitation, you can receive a rehabilitation allowance or rehabilitation subsidy.

You need a B medical statement from your doctor for applying for the rehabilitation. Once you have been given the statement, you must find out about your opportunity for vocational rehabilitation first from your pension institution and subsequently from Kela if necessary. Follow the provided instructions.

If vocational rehabilitation is not possible for you, discuss other means for finding a new profession with an expert from TE Services or your municipality.

Consider applying for a pension. Find out whether your municipality provides work ability and pension investigations. You can apply to the investigations with the help of a social worker or social instructor, municipal employment services, primary health care, and intoxicant abuse and mental health services. Practices vary based on municipalities.

The investigation involves assessing your remaining work ability and functional capacity. It can be used as a basis for applying for rehabilitation or a pension for you.

Help and advice is available free of charge from

• the Guarantee Foundation’s Debt Line
• the financial and debt counselling of the legal aid office of your region
• parishes even if you are not a member of the church.

You are entitled to rehabilitation, training or a job, or you can take part in services promoting employment if the following conditions are met: 

1. You are at least 57 years old and registered as an unemployed jobseeker at a TE Office
2. The maximum period for which Kela or your unemployment fund pays you unemployment allowance is coming to an end
3. You are not entitled to extended unemployment allowance.

The TE Office must provide you with an opportunity to take part in services promoting employment before you lose your right to unemployment allowance. If there are no suitable rehabilitation or training opportunities or services available, your home municipality must offer you employment. The TE Office must notify your home municipality of the employment obligation and your rights. 

If you take part in employment-promoting services offered to you, you will continue to receive the unemployment allowance during the services and after they have ended. Likewise, the payment of the unemployment allowance will continue after your fixed-term employment relationship has ended.

The multisectoral joint services promoting employment are provided in a cooperation of Kela, the TE Offices and municipalities. In the service, the authorities together guide their clients to employment, rehabilitation, and social and health care services. In some municipalities, all of these services are available in one place, while others have made different arrangements for the cooperation.

The TE Office or your municipality can refer you to multisectoral joint services if you fulfil certain conditions. You will particularly benefit from the cooperation by the authorities if you have multiple problems that need to be figured out before your employment. 

The multisectoral joint services begin with an investigation period aiming to determine which services you need. After the investigation period, you can start a work try-out, vocational rehabilitation or rehabilitative work experience, for instance. All of these activities are aimed at getting you back to work.