Before retirement

If you are thinking about retiring, you should first check which pensions you can apply for. To find out about your earnings-related pensions, take a look at your pension record, which is available at työeläke.fi. You can also contact your pension provider or the Finnish Centre for Pensions. If you are still working, your employer can let you know which pension provider you are insured with.

You should apply for a national pension if the other pensions and benefits you qualify for do not exceed the income limit for a national pension. If you wish to check your eligibility for a national pension in advance, you can compare the gross amount of your future earnings-related pension against the income limits for the national pension, or alternatively ask Kela for an estimate on your national pension.

Are you applying for a pension from abroad?

If you have lived or worked in some other country besides Finland, you may be entitled to a pension from that country. When you are applying for pension from abroad, you typically submit the application to the pension provider of your country of residence.

How to apply for a pension

If you are applying for both earnings-related pensions and Kela pensions, you only need submit one application. The receiving office will forward a copy of your application to all other relevant pension providers.

If you wish to apply for an old-age pension, you can do so online. Applications for disability pensions and unemployment pensions, however, must be filed on a paper form. In the case of the old-age pension and guarantee pension available from Kela, even verbal applications are accepted. Applications for care allowance for pensioners, increase for children and housing allowance for pensioners must be submitted to Kela. If interacting with Kela is challenging for you personally, you can authorise another person to do so on your behalf.

Application period

Submit your application in good time. National pension, housing allowance for pensioners, care allowance, increase for children and front-veterans' supplement, among other benefits, can only be awarded retroactively for 6 months starting from when the application was received. Further information about how to apply for earnings-related pensions is available at työeläke.fi.

Updated 12/05/12