How to claim

  • File your claim online or complete paper form SV 8e.
  • Enclose a medical certificate concerning your incapacity for work. If you enclose Medical Certificate A (concise medical certificate) with your claim, you cannot normally be paid Sickness Allowance for more than 60 days.
  • If your income has increased or fluctuated and you wish to claim on the basis of more recent income, enclose a wage statement for the 6 months immediately preceding the onset of work incapacity or a report of earnings by your employer (form Y 17e). Your employer can report your earnings to Kela online.
  • If you have had an accident or traffic accident or if you have an occupational disease, enclose an accident report (form SV 143e). If you choose to use the online claim, you provide this information with your claim and need not a submit separate documentation.
  • File your claim within 2 months of the onset of work incapacity.
  • Members of workplace sickness funds should claim Sickness Allowance from their fund.

Renewal claim

  • If you have received Sickness Allowance on the basis of Medical Certificate A and your incapacity continues, submit a Medical Certificate B to Kela.
  • If your Medical Certificate B is valid for a specified period only, submit a new certificate to Kela in time to avoid any interruptions in the payment of Sickness Allowance.
  • Claims for a renewal or increase of Sickness Allowance can be filed retrospectively for up to 4 months.

Additional documentation

Kela may ask you to provide additional documentation about your health status or work circumstances. Kela may also refer you to further tests for example in a treatment or examination facility in order to obtain an assessment of your health and your capacity for work. This will normally be free of charge to you. You will be informed of the necessity to undergo additional tests in the decision issued to you by Kela's local office. Kela will usually continue to pay you Sickness Allowance until sufficient information has been acquired to issue a decision on your claim.

Updated 05/14/13