suomi.fi
Go directly to contents.
Responsible for the service Kela

Basic social assistance paid out by Kela

  • Service
  • Nationwide
  • Public service

Kela grants basic social assistance to individuals and families whose income or assets do not cover their essential daily expenses.

Before applying for basic social assistance you must first consider all other sources of income that could be available to you, for example unemployment benefits or housing allowances.

For more information on other benefits, see www.kela.fi.

Do the following

The benefits provided by Kela are usually available on application only. You can also authorise another person to handle your matters for you. However, reimbursements of medical, pharmaceutical and travel expenses are available as direct on-the-spot reimbursements, with no application required.

You can apply for most benefits online using Kela’s OmaKela e-service. In OmaKela, you can also submit documents supporting your application and report changes, as well as check the status of your application and the payment dates for your benefits.

If you need help, call Kela’s customer service number or visit a Kela service point.

The service is provided by

Kela

Responsible for the service

Kela
Text edited by: Kela
Updated: 19/5/2023