If a benefit has been overpaid

Tell Kela as soon as possible about any changes in your circumstances (e.g. if you earn more income than previously) so that your benefit is not overpaid.

If someone has been paid too much benefit or has not been entitled to benefit payments, Kela will recover the overpayment. Before Kela decides on recovery you will usually be heard in the matter. This means that you have the opportunity to state your own view. In practice Kela will send you a request for additional information.

You can reply to the request in the OmaKela e-service:

1. Log in to the OmaKela e-service. Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
2. On the front page, select Liikaa maksetut etuudet (Overpaid benefits) and then Vastaa selvityspyyntöön (Reply to request for information). 

Alternatively, you can call the phone number stated in the decision or complete the form enclosed with the decision and send it to Kela. Send the form to the address Kansaneläkelaitos, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

If you do not reply to the request for information, Kela will make the decision on the basis of the information available to us.

On the basis of an overall assessment, Kela can in certain situations reduce the amount to be recovered. Kela takes the following into account:

• your social situation, e.g. whether you are somebody’s custodian
• your economic situation
• reasons for the overpayment.

The recovery will not be waived or the amount to be recovered reduced, if the reason for the overpayment is the customer’s dishonest behaviour.

After requesting information, Kela decides on the recovery

After requesting information, Kela decides on the recovery. If the overpaid benefit is recovered from you, you find information about the amount to be recovered, the due date for payment and the payment details in the decision on recovery. The decision also includes instructions on how you can suggest a payment plan to Kela’s Overpayment Recovery Centre or appeal against the decision.

You cannot pay the debt or suggest a payment plan until you have received the decision on recovery.

Learn more about the recovery of benefits at Recovery of overpayments.

If you have questions about the request for information or the decision on recovery, you can call the phone number stated in the decision. Information about the customer service numbers for the different benefits is also available at Call Kela.

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