Housing Assistance

The Housing Assistance available from Kela covers the actual and reasonable housing costs. The following are considered as housing costs: rent, maintenance charge, separate heating and water charges, interest and annual payments on housing loans, electricity and gas charges, and the maintenance costs for single-family homes.

The Housing Assistance can be paid to the conscript himself or herself or the conscript's spouse and children. Spouse and children refers to

• a married spouse or registered partner of the conscript
• a cohabiting spouse who has a dependent child with the conscript
• a biological or adopted child of the conscript or his or her married spouse, or a child placed into the custody of the conscript whose legal guardian the conscript is.

If you acquired your home immediately before entering or while performing the service, Kela will normally not pay any housing costs unless you had a particular reason (such as starting a family) for acquiring a new home.

If you are performing non-military service, your place of service will pay for your accommodation, which means that you cannot get Housing Assistance. However, you may be able to get Housing Assistance for the costs of your regular home, if you live elsewhere while in service.

Income and assets

The amount of the Housing Assistance is affected by the income of the conscript and his or her eligible family members during the performance of the service.

If received during the performance of the service, the following count as income:

• for employees, wage or salary (including fringe benefits), minus withholding taxes and contributions towards earnings-related pensions and unemployment insurance
• for the self-employed, earned income and income from capital, minus taxes
• for farmers, earned income minus taxes
• social welfare benefits minus taxes
• nearly all other income at net value (with the exception of income support, Paternity Allowance, per-diem allowance paid by the Finnish Defence Forces, etc.)

The value of or income from assets do not affect the amount of the allowance.

Other benefits

Kela does not pay conscripts Study Grant or Housing Benefit for students. If the conscript or his or her spouse and children receive General Housing Allowance, Kela will pay the allowance even during the service. If your housing costs overrun the amount of the General Housing Allowance, Kela will pay you the difference as Housing Assistance.