How income affects the conscript's allowance
Eligibility for the conscript’s allowance is affected by the net income available to the conscript or a family member qualifying for the allowance. The amount of the allowance is reduced by an amount equal to the net income.
There is, however, an exempt amount of €300 per month on wage and salary income and income from self-employment. The exempt amount refers to the net amount, i.e. the amount after tax, that a conscript can earn per month, without it affecting the amount of conscript’s allowance.
Example
Alex, who is entering conscript service, pays a rent of €750 per month for his flat. He applies for conscript’s allowance to pay for his rent. While on leave, Alex works part-time earning about €400 per month after taxes. Because of the €300 exempt amount, only €100 of Alex's salary will affect the amount of conscript’s allowance. He is paid €650 per month in conscript’s allowance.
Income that affects
- wages and salaries (including fringe benefits), minus taxes and contributions to earnings-related pension insurance and unemployment insurance
- business and self-employment income as relevant for Self-Employed Persons' Pension Insurance (YEL).
- farming income as relevant for Farmers' Pension Insurance (MYEL).
- social security benefits minus taxes
- other types of net income than those listed below.
The following are not considered as income
- general housing allowance
- maternity grant
- paternity allowance for persons performing conscript or other service (if the estimated due date of the baby was before 4 September 2022)
- parental allowance for persons performing conscript or other service
- child benefit
- disability benefits
- maintenance allowance
- social assistance
- daily allowance for persons performing conscript or other service (varusmies.fi) (in Finnish)
- income from capital
- tax refunds.
Assets
Assets or the income on assets do not affect the eligibility or amount of the conscript's allowance.