Unemployment

You can use your municipality's jogging tracks, ski tracks and outdoor fields for free, and as an unemployed person, swimming pools and gym facilities often at reduced prices.

If you like group sports, ask your local authority and local sports clubs about the services they offer.

If you are unemployed, you can get a discount on, for example

• entry fees to swimming pools, gym facilities and other sports facilities
• theatre and concert tickets
• museum entry fees
• course fees of adult education institutes and workers’ institutes
• services provided by companies and organisations.

In addition, many associations for the unemployed offer inexpensive lunches and food assistance.

You prove that you are unemployed when you present a certificate of the validity of your job search. You can print the certificate from the E-Services or ask an expert from the TE Services or your municipality's employment services to print it out for you.

You must apply for jobs and participate in the services if you want to receive unemployment benefit.

Try to organise your holiday period so that it does not prevent you from accessing the services. Also, holiday is not a reason not to apply for jobs that you are offered or have promised to apply for.

There are organisations in Finland that organise subsidised holidays for persons and families with limited means.  A subsidised holiday can be an all-expenses-paid week at a Finnish spa resort or holiday resort for the entire family.

You can apply for a subsidised holiday if your funds are not sufficient for the holiday. Submit an application directly to the holiday organisation of your choice. You can also ask the social services in your wellbeing services county for help in applying for a subsidised holiday.

If you go on a longer sick leave, please notify

• the TE Office or your municipality's employment services
• your unemployment fund or Kela.

If you are applying for sickness allowance, your unemployment fund or Kela will interrupt the payment of your unemployment benefit for the duration of the sickness allowance.

Also notify the TE Office or your municipality's employment services of a sickness of a shorter duration if it prevents you from participating in the services. Ask an expert at the TE Office or your municipality's employment services whether you need a sick leave certificate for the period of illness. 

If you have problems paying the client charges in healthcare, talk to the healthcare provider or the social worker about reducing and not collecting the client charges.

Ordinary volunteer activities or voluntary projects in organisations or housing companies, for example, is usually not an obstacle to unemployment benefit.

However, you will lose your eligibility for unemployment benefit if you

• carry out without pay such work that is usually done in an employment relationship or as entrepreneurial activity
• refuse a job or a service because of volunteer activities or a voluntary project
• interrupt a job or a service because of volunteer activities or a voluntary project.

Meals related to the work or the travel expenses paid for the work do not count as pay.

If you suspect that you have a mental health problem, you can go to a health and social services centre to discuss the matter. In addition, you can discuss your thoughts in the national helpline of MIELI Mental Health Finland.

If you have self-destructive thoughts and need help, please call the Medical Helpline on number 116 117. In an acute emergency, call the emergency number 112.

You may have a mental health problem if, for example:

• You don't have the energy to meet people
• You're feeling blue and sad and are not happy about matters like before
• Everyday matters seem difficult
• You don’t sleep enough or sleep poorly or too much
• Your appetite has deteriorated or increased
• Your substance abuse has increased.

If you suspect that you have a substance abuse problem, you can go to discuss the matter, for example,

• at a health and social services centre
• at a substance abuse clinic (e.g. A-clinic)
• with other rehabilitation professionals.

Read the guide Alcohol, drugs or gambling at Suomi.fi.