Unemployment benefit from Kela?
If you become unemployed or if you are temporarily laid-off or if your studies have ended but you don't have a job, you should immediately register as an unemployed jobseeker in accordance with the instructions of the TE Services. After that you can receive unemployment benefits from the unemployment fund or from Kela. Unemployment benefits cannot be paid out unless you are registered as an unemployed jobseeker.
The benefits that can be paid to unemployed persons are:
- unemployment allowance (earnings-related unemployment allowance or basic unemployment allowance) or
- labour market subsidy.
Earnings-related unemployment allowance
If you are a member of an unemployment fund for instance through a trade union, you can apply for earnings-related unemployment allowance from the unemployment fund (tyj.fi). If you are not entitled to earnings-related unemployment allowance, you can apply for basic unemployment allowance or labour market subsidy from Kela.
Temporarily laid-off
If you are temporarily laid off and you do not receive earnings-related unemployment allowance, you can apply for basic unemployment allowance or labour market subsidy from Kela. First register as an unemployed jobseeker with the TE Services.
Other assistance for unemployed jobseekers
When your earnings decrease you can also be entitled to:
- general housing allowance
- interest assistance for student loans
- social assistance
- exemption from payment of child support.