During unemployment
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Report your days of unemployment
In order to receive unemployment benefits from Kela, you must report your days of unemployment.
If you have been granted basic unemployment allowance or labour market subsidy, you must send an unemployment status report in the OmaKela e-service for the first 10 working days when you have been unemployed.
If unemployment continues after you have been granted an unemployment benefit, you must send an unemployment status report in the OmaKela e-service regularly every 4 weeks.
Also complete an unemployment status report if
- you work during a period of unemployment
- you are absent from employment promoting services
- you are still unemployed when the employment promoting service ends.
You can only receive unemployment benefit for the days you have reported.
Always complete the report for a period that has ended. You do not have to know about coming changes in your unemployment status beforehand. You can see in the OmaKela e-service when you must file an unemployment status report.
Kela obtains information on wages and salaries from the national incomes register. We use this data when processing claims and applications. We may ask for additional information, if necessary.
How long does it take for Kela to process the status report?
Reporting on a form
If you cannot report the days of unemployment in the OmaKela e-service, you can also complete and print out the form Unemployment status report TT 2e (pdf). Send the report by post along with the supporting documents to the address Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Exceptions at Easter and Christmas
Due to Easter and Christmas, the unemployment benefit may be paid earlier. Other mid-week holidays (including New Year’s Day, Epiphany, First of May, Ascension Day, Midsummer Eve and Independence Day) do not lead to an earlier payment of the unemployment benefit. Check the exceptions to the reporting dates and payment dates in the OmaKela e-service. Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Comply with the requirements of your employment plan
When you have registered as an unemployed jobseeker with TE Services, TE Services or the municipality (if you are part of a local government trial) draws up an employment plan together with you.
One of the requirements that TE Services sets out in the employment plan is the number of job applications you must submit per month in order to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. The measures through which the unemployed person should strive to improve his or her employment prospects are also agreed on in the employment plan.
Report monthly to TE Services on how you have complied with the requirements of the employment plan.
Read more about the employment plan (tyomarkkinatori.fi).
What happens if you do not comply with the requirements of your employment plan?
If you do not comply with the requirements of your employment plan, you may lose your right to unemployment benefits for a specified period of time. This is called a mandatory waiting period. TE Services issues a statement to Kela on the mandatory waiting period and its length.
If you participate in employment promoting services, the benefit can be paid out despite the mandatory waiting period.
Read more about the mandatory waiting period (tyomarkkinatori.fi).
What are you required to do during and after the mandatory waiting period?
During a short mandatory waiting period (5 or 10 working days) you must report your days of unemployment to Kela.
If the mandatory waiting period lasts 45 days you must file a new application for unemployment benefits with Kela after completing the mandatory waiting period.
If you lose your right to unemployment benefits for an unspecified period of time, you can apply for a benefit only after you met the obligation of employment. TE Services or the municipality issues a statement to Kela on whether the obligation of employment is met.
Your entitlement to an unemployment benefit for periods of unemployment is restored if one of the following criteria is met:
- you work for 12 calendar weeks in a job that is included in the work requirement
- you participate in employment promoting services for 12 calendar weeks
- you study on a full-time basis for 12 calendar weeks
- you work as a self-employed person or independent entrepreneur on a full-time basis for 12 calendar weeks.
If none of the criteria are met, the obligation of employment is removed when 5 years have past since TE Services set the obligation.
Employment promoting services
If you are unemployed, you can participate in employment promoting services. During that time, you will get a higher unemployment benefit.
Falling ill while unemployed and looking for work
If you are an unemployed jobseeker and you fall ill, you can receive sickness allowance.
The time of sickness allowance does not count against the maximum duration of the basic unemployment allowance. You cannot receive an unemployment benefit at the same time that you receive sickness allowance or partial sickness allowance.
Apply for sick leave so that you do not lose your unemployment benefit
If you fall ill you should apply for sick leave, because you can lose your unemployment benefit for a specified period of time or for an unspecified period of time, if you as an unemployed jobseeker do not accept job offers that you may receive.
Waiting period
The sickness allowance is paid after a 10-day waiting period. You can receive an unemployment benefit for the waiting period.
- Visit a doctor and request a medical certificate regarding your incapacity for work. The doctor assesses your incapacity for work and also your need of rehabilitation.
- Report the period of incapacity for work indicated on the medical certificate to TE Services (tyomarkkinatori.fi).
- Apply for sickness allowance from Kela.
- Renew your status as a jobseeker also while you are waiting for a decision on the sickness allowance.
- Report the end of the sick leave to TE Services (tyomarkkinatori.fi).
- File an unemployment status report with Kela, so that the payment of the unemployment benefit continues.
- If you have received sickness allowance for more than 30 days, you must file a new application for the unemployment benefit.
- If you participate in rehabilitation arranged by Kela, you must also report this to TE Services.
Short periods of study while receiving unemployment benefit
If you have reached the age of 25 years, you can study for short periods without losing the unemployment benefit. Short periods of study can last a maximum of 6 months. The studies must provide you with vocational skills or support self-employment. TE Services investigates whether these conditions are met.
Read more about short periods of study while receiving unemployment benefit (tyomarkkinatori.fi).
What about other areas of your life?
Do you need help with housing costs?
Housing allowance can compensate for reduced incomes and help with the housing costs. Read more about the types of costs for which you can get housing allowance.
Are you short of money?
If you are unemployed, you may be really short of money. In that case, social assistance can help you get through the worst.
Did you fall ill?
If you are ill, you should apply for sick leave and sickness allowance instead of unemployment benefit. That way, you do not use up the maximum of 400 days of basic unemployment allowance while on sick leave.