Rehabilitation subsidy and disability pension
If your capacity for work is decreased on a long-term basis for at least a year because of an illness or injury, you can apply for a rehabilitation subsidy or a disability pension. These benefits can usually only be granted after the applicant has received sickness allowance for about one year.
Rehabilitation subsidy is a disability pension that is paid only for a specified time period
A disability pension can be payable for a specified time period or indefinitely. A fixed-term disability pension is called a rehabilitation subsidy. The objective is for you to return to work or study after the rehabilitation subsidy ends. However, if your work capacity is not restored or improved during treatment or rehabilitation, you may be entitled to a disability pension that is payable indefinitely.
Rehabilitation subsidies and disability pensions are paid by authorised pension providers and by Kela
- Your authorised pension provider, Kela, or both of them can pay you a rehabilitation subsidy or a disability pension.
- When a rehabilitation allowance or a disability pension is paid by an authorised pension provider, it is paid as an earnings-related pension. Earnings-related pension is paid on account of work and self-employment.
- Authorised pension providers may grant a disability pension to a person who is over 17 years old but under the age of old-age pension.
- You can find more information about your earnings-related pension on your pension provider’s website. If you do not know your own authorised pension provider, you can check it on the työeläke.fi website.
- If your earnings-related pension is small or you have not accrued any, you can receive a disability pension as a national pension from Kela.
- You may be entitled to a rehabilitation subsidy or a disability pension from Kela if you are between 16 and 64 years of age. Read more about eligibility for a rehabilitation subsidy or a disability pension under the National Pensions Act.
- Apply for an earnings-related pension and a national pension using the same application. How to apply for rehabilitation subsidy or disability pension.
- When a pensioner turns 65 years old, their disability pension is changed to an old-age pension.
- In addition, Kela can pay a guarantee pension if your other pensions are really small. The purpose of the guarantee pension is to ensure the minimum pension for persons living in Finland.