18/3/2024Cuts in general housing allowances and unemployment benefits will impact around 500,000 of Kela’s customers starting from 1 April 2024Several cuts will be made in April to the general housing allowances and unemployment benefits available from Kela. The benefits of around half a million customers will be affected. The cuts made to the unemployment benefits will reduce benefits right away in April. General housing allowances will be reduced when next reviewed, which will take place no later than March 2025. 12/3/2024Easter affects Kela’s opening hours and payment schedulesBecause of Easter, unemployment status reports are filed and unemployment benefits paid earlier than usual. Customers whose application and supporting documents arrive at Kela by 15 March 2024 will have their social assistance payment deposited into their account before Easter. On Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024, regular customer service will be available until 13.00, while service for customers with an urgent need of social assistance will be available until 16.00.5/3/2024Government proposes changes to wage-subsidised work, earnings-related unemployment allowances and age-related exceptions to unemployment benefit rules23/2/2024Kela launches customer survey to better understand the needs of English-language services usersKela's latest survey invites users of the English kela.fi website to shape the services aimed at them by sharing what aspects they think are effective and what areas need improvement.22/2/2024Government proposes to end adult education allowances and job alternation leavesUnder a proposal put out by the Government, the adult education allowance would no longer be available for studies beginning on or after 1 August 2024. The same would apply to the government-provided student loan guarantees that are part of the scheme. Eligibility for job alternation leaves would also end at the beginning of August.7/2/2024Kela has sent out some 35,000 preliminary decisions for the recovery of overpaid student financial aidAbout 35,000 students receiving financial aid had income in excess of the annual income limit in 2022. They have received a preliminary decision on the recovery of the overpaid financial aid. The number of recipients was lower this year than it was last year.5/2/2024Improved guidance at kela.fi for customers in changing life situationsA new and improved version of the kela.fi website will be launched. The updated section about unemployment and the new front pages for all the main sections of the site are the first to be launched. Customers have been involved in the development of the website.31/1/2024Kela services probably not impacted by the demonstration and political strikes scheduled for 31 January – 2 February 2024 It appears that Kela services will not be impacted by the demonstration that trade unions will hold on Thursday, 1 February 2024, and the political strike scheduled for 31 January to 2 February. While Kela taxis will not be targeted by the strike, it is a good idea to book a taxi as soon as possible.31/1/2024How to check your client data if the service provider has ceased operations and the data has been transferred to KelaIf a private provider of healthcare and social welfare service ceases operations, it must ensure that the patient and client data are stored and archived securely. Different organisations can be responsible for storing and archiving the data. These instructions are for clients who want to check the patient data that has been transferred to Kela.11/1/2024Higher education students can now pay the healthcare feeHigher education students who study for a degree and who have registered as attending must pay a student healthcare fee. The new due date for the spring term is 15 March 2024 Kela will send a letter in advance of the due date to students who must pay the fee.20/12/2023Changes to the housing allowance for pensioners year 2024The pensioners’ housing allowance will be frozen at its 2023 level. The allowance is linked to the National Pensions Index. The charges for heating, water and maintenance and the maximum amounts of housing costs will also not be adjusted in 2024–2027. Other rules for determining the housing allowance for pensioners remain unchanged.20/12/2023Changes to Kela benefits in 2024The number of changes to Kela benefits and eligibility criteria scheduled for 2024 is unusually large. Some of the changes will take effect at the beginning of 2024, others not until later in 2024.18/12/2023Changes to Kela unemployment benefits in 2024Parliament has approved a number of changes to unemployment benefits. Among them are cuts to basic unemployment allowances and labour market subsidies, both of which are paid by Kela. Some of the changes will take effect at the beginning of 2024, others not until later in 2024. This press release summarises all of the changes to Kela unemployment benefits that will be implemented during 2024.18/12/2023Child benefits to be increased on 1 January 2024 and 1 April 2024The child benefits of families with four or more children and the child benefit for children under 3 will be increased next year. The single-parent supplement to the child benefit will also be increased.18/12/2023Rates of several Kela benefits will be frozen at their 2023 level for the next few yearsUnemployment benefits, child care allowances and study grants will not be index adjusted in 2024–2027. The minimum amounts of the daily allowances payable under National Health Insurance will also not be increased, so they will remain the same as in 2023.15/12/2023Front-veterans’ supplements to be increasedThe amounts of the front-veterans’ supplements (both the regular supplement and the supplement payable abroad) will go up to EUR 200 per month. The increased amount will be available starting 1 May 2024. 13/12/2023General housing allowance reduced in 2024, will no longer be available for owner-occupied homes starting in 20251234567page 1/7