Changes to social assistance: new requirements and stricter criteria as of February

Parliament has approved the government proposal on the general social security benefit. The new general social security benefit will come into force on 1 May 2026. It will replace labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance. These are existing unemployment benefits that are currently paid by Kela.

General social security benefit to replace Kela-paid unemployment benefits in May 2026

Finnish government has approved an increase of the maternity grant. The increased maternity grant will be available to customers whose estimated due date or the date when their adopted child is placed in their care is 1 April 2026 or later.

Maternity grant to be increased to EUR 210

Changes introduced in 2026 will focus particularly on benefits for persons who are unemployed or receiving social assistance. The changes to social assistance will enter into force in February 2026. In May 2026, a new general social security benefit will replace the labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela.

Changes to Kela benefits in 2026

Parliament has approved amendments to the Health Insurance Act that introduce changes to the amount of sickness allowance paid on account of human cell, tissue or organ donation (donor allowance) and the criteria for granting special care allowance.

Amount of donor allowance and criteria for special care allowance to change in January

Parliament has approved changes to the Health Insurance Act. Following the change, the list of risk factors that are a ground for granting special pregnancy allowance will be supplemented. In addition, it will also be possible to grant special pregnancy allowance as a partial allowance. The changes will enter into force on 1 January 2026.

Eligibility criteria for special pregnancy allowance will change

As of 1 January 2026, Kela will pay a reimbursement of EUR 8 for an appointment with a doctor in the private sector. Reimbursement for remote appointments (by video, telephone or chat) will also be EUR 8. Reimbursements for appointments with gynaecologists and psychiatrists will remain unchanged. The change also does not apply to the pilot study on freedom of choice in healthcare for persons aged 65 or over.

Lower reimbursements from Kela for private healthcare appointments from 1 January 2026

There will be changes to how Kela pays out the part of social assistance that is earmarked for rent when an amendment to the Act on Social Assistance enters into force on 1 February 2026. As of February, Kela will pay the part of social assistance earmarked for rent directly to the landlord if Kela has granted the customer a rental security deposit for their current home as part of social assistance.

Changes to payment of social assistance: social assistance earmarked for rent to be paid directly to the landlord

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<h1>Changes to social security benefits</h1>

<p>Kela’s task is to implement the changes to the social security legislation that Parliament approves.</p>

<p>On this page, we will gather up-to-date information on upcoming changes to the social security benefits. When the changes take effect, we will also update the information on the pages describing the individual benefits.</p>

<h1>Muutokset sosiaaliturvaan</h1>

<p>Kelan tehtävänä on toimeenpanna eduskunnan hyväksymät sosiaaliturvalainsäädännön muutokset.</p>

<p>Kokoamme tälle sivulle tietoa ajankohtaisista sosiaaliturvan muutoksista. Kun muutokset tulevat voimaan, tiedot päivitetään myös kunkin tuen sivulle.</p>

<h1>Förändringar i den sociala tryggheten</h1>

<p>FPA:s uppgift är att verkställa de ändringar i lagstiftningen gällande den sociala tryggheten som riksdagen godkänner.</p>

<p>På den här sidan sammanställer vi aktuell information om kommande förändringar i den sociala tryggheten. När förändringarna träder i kraft uppdaterar vi informationen också på webbsidorna om respektive förmån.</p>

The Government Programme A strong and committed Finland includes many changes to the social security benefits. Kela’s task is to implement the changes to the social security legislation that Parliament approves.

Hallitusohjelma sisältää monia muutoksia sosiaaliturvaan. Kelan tehtävänä on toimeenpanna eduskunnan hyväksymät sosiaaliturvalainsäädännön muutokset.

Regeringsprogrammet Ett starkt och engagerat Finland innefattar många förändringar i den sociala tryggheten. FPA:s uppgift är att verkställa de ändringar i lagstiftningen gällande den sociala tryggheten som riksdagen godkänner.

Changes to social security benefits

Muutokset sosiaaliturvaan

Förändringar i den sociala tryggheten

<h2>Read more</h2>

<div class="linkkilista">
<p><a href="https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/governments/government-programme#/">Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government (valtioneuvosto.fi)</a><br>
 </p>
</div>

<h2 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">Lue lisää</h2>

<div class="linkkilista">
<p><a href="https://valtioneuvosto.fi/hallitukset/hallitusohjelma#/">Hallitusohjelma (valtioneuvosto.fi)</a><br>
<br>
 </p>
</div>

<h2>Läs mer</h2>

<div class="linkkilista">
<p><a href="https://valtioneuvosto.fi/sv/regeringar/regeringsprogrammet#/">Regeringsprogrammet (valtioneuvosto.fi)</a><br>
 </p>
</div>

Temporary increases to benefits for families with children

Hallitusohjelmamuutokset - Lue lisää

De temporära höjningarna i stöden för barnfamiljer

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<p> </p>

<h1>Pahoittelut, sivua ei löytynyt!</h1>

<p>Etsimääsi sivua ei valitettavasti löytynyt. Varmistathan, että kirjoitit osoitteen oikein. Sivu on saatettu myös siirtää tai poistaa.</p>

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	<li>Voit etsiä sisältöä navigoimalla <a href="https://www.kela.fi">etusivulta</a> tai käyttämällä <a href="https://www.kela.fi/haku">hakua</a>.</li>
	<li>Voit ottaa yhteyttä<a href="https://www.kela.fi/asiakaspalvelu"> asiakaspalveluumme</a>.</li>
	<li>Voit <a href="https://www.kela.fi/anna-palautetta">antaa palautetta</a> verkkosivuista.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Tyvärr kunde sidan inte hittas!</h2>

<p>Sidan som du sökte finns inte. Kontrollera att adressen är korrekt. Sidan kan ha flyttats eller avlägsnats.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Gå till <a href="https://www.fpa.fi/">ingångssidan</a> och sök efter önskat ämne genom att navigera i tjänsten eller med hjälp av <a href="https://www.kela.fi/sok">Sök</a>-funktionen.</li>
	<li>Ring <a href="https://www.kela.fi/kundservice">FPA:s kundtjänst</a>.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.kela.fi/ge-respons">Ge respons</a>.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Sorry, page was not found!</h2>

<p>The page you were looking for was not found. Please re-check the page address. The page may have been relocated or removed.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Try navigating from <a href="https://www.kela.fi/main-page">the home page</a> or try writing the keywords of the subject matter into the <a href="https://www.kela.fi/search">Search box</a>.</li>
	<li>Call <a href="https://www.kela.fi/customer-service">Kela's customer service</a>.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.kela.fi/give-feedback">Give us feedback</a>.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Tyvärr kunde sidan inte hittas!</h2>

<p>Sidan som du sökte finns inte. Kontrollera att adressen är korrekt. Sidan kan ha flyttats eller avlägsnats.</p>

<p>Gå till ingångssidan och sök efter önskat ämne genom att navigera i tjänsten eller med hjälp av Sök-funktionen.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.kela.fi/ge-respons" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Ge respons</a></p>

<p> </p>

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You may be unable to use the chatbot (only available in Finnish and Swedish) from 14 to 16 January 2026 between 7.00 and 9.00 due to scheduled maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Chattirobotti-palvelussa tehdään huoltotöitä, jotka voivat aiheuttaa käyttökatkoja chattirobotin toimintaan 14.1. - 16.1.2026 klo 7-9. Pahoittelemme katkosta aiheutuvaa haittaa.

Planerade underhållsarbeten kan leda till driftsavbrott och påverka användningen av chattbotten 14.1–16.1.2026 kl. 7-9. Vi beklagar de olägenheter som avbrotten orsakar.

Chatbot may be unavailable 14-16 January due to maintenance

Chattirobotin toiminnassa huoltokatkoja 14.-16.1.

Serviceavbrott påverkar användningen av chattbotten 14–16.1.

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<p>When you visit a service point, bring proof of identity, such as your passport or driver’s licence. If you are acting on behalf of another person, you need a specific power of attorney from that person and proof of your identity.</p><p>If you bring your online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, you can manage your Kela-related affairs on a self-service computer at the service point.</p><p>You are permitted to bring a guide dog, an assistance dog or a government working dog to a service point.</p>

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<p>When you visit a Kela customer service point, bring proof of identity, such as your passport or driver’s licence. If you are acting on behalf of another person, you need a specific power of attorney from that person and proof of your identity.</p><p>If you bring your online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, you can manage your Kela-related affairs on a self-service computer at the customer service point. </p><p>You are permitted to bring a guide dog, an assistance dog or a government working dog to a customer service point.</p>

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