As an informal carer for a loved one

If your loved one cannot manage at home without your help, you may already be an informal carer. Familiarise yourself with typical carer`s tasks.

You can find more inquiries and tests that clarify the situation on the Organisations for Carers Network Finland´s  Recognising an informal care situation page (in Finnish)Opens in a new window..

Informal care support consists of a financial remuneration and services. 

• Apply for an informal care allowance from your wellbeing services county (or the City of Helsinki`s social services). The application form is different in different wellbeing services counties.
• If you are granted informal care allowance, you and the wellbeing services county will conclude an informal care agreement and draw up a care and client plan for your loved one.

Read more about how to apply for an informal care allowance.

An informal care agreement does not give you the right to take care of other matters on behalf of your loved one. For example, you need power of attorney or a mandate to manage your loved one’s financial affairs. 

Read more about the different ways to give authorisations on Can I take care of things on behalf of my loved one? page.

As a carer, you will need new skills for everyday life: 

• Ask your wellbeing services county for education and training for caring for your loved one 
• Apply for training for informal carers organised by organisations 
• You can purchase services that facilitate everyday life from companies
• The wellbeing services county must arrange the care of your loved one whilst you are on leave. One option is to hire a substitute carer.

Read more on page Help for a smoother everyday life.

You can find peer support in the peer support groups organised by organisations and wellbeing services counties. If you become exhausted in everyday life or need help, do not be afraid to ask for support. You can participate in organisational activities even if you do not have an informal care agreement. 

The wellbeing services county provides health examinations free of charge for those who have concluded an informal care agreement.

Notify the TE Office when you conclude an informal care agreement. Submit information on your situation as an informal carer to the TE Office. To avoid losing your unemployment benefit, please read the instructions carefully.

 The wellbeing services county must arrange care for your loved one so that you can work. The plan should be recorded in the informal care agreement, which you can submit to the TE Office.

Register as an unemployed jobseeker with a TE Office.

If your situation or that of the person you care for changes, notify your wellbeing services county.

The change can be, for example, a deterioration in health status or a change of address.

An informal care agreement will come to an end when

• the health of your loved one or your own health declines so much that informal care is no longer a viable alternative
• you want to terminate the agreement
• the agreement is terminated by the wellbeing services county
• your loved one dies.

Return to the section End of care.