Information by topic

Basic social assistance

Social assistance, or income support, is a last-resort form of financial assistance for individuals and families which covers some of the basic necessities of life. It is paid by Kela. Supplementary and preventive social assistance is provided by municipalities.

Statistics

• Statistics on basic social assistance
• Statistical reports on basic social assistance in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics

Research

• Current research on social assistance

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on basic social assistance

Conscripts

Those performing their conscript or alternative non-military service as well as women performing voluntary military service, along with their family members, may be entitled to a conscript's allowance from Kela. The conscript’s allowance can consist of housing, basic, maintenance and special assistance, as well as interest payments on student loans.

Statistics

• Statistics on conscripts’ allowance
• Report on the conscript’s allowance in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures 

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on benefits for conscripts

Coronavirus epidemic

Research

• Current research
• Research blog posts with ‘COVID-19’ as a keyword (tutkimusblogi.kela.fi)

Additional information

• Update on the coronavirus situation, information about the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the benefits provided by Kela

Disability benefits

The benefits provided by Kela for persons with disabilities are: the disability allowance for persons under 16 years of age, the disability allowance for persons aged 16 years or over, and the care allowance for pensioners. In addition, Kela provides interpreter services for persons with disabilities.

Statistics

• Statistics on disability benefits provided by Kela
• Statistical reports on disability benefits in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on disability benefits provided by Kela

Families with children

Parents are entitled to family leave and various benefits from Kela following the birth of a child. Benefits for families with children include the child maintenance allowance, the child benefit, child care allowances, maternity, paternity and parental allowances, and the maternity grant.

Statistics

• Statistics on child maintenance allowance
• Statistics on child benefit
• Statistics on child care allowances
• Statistics on maternity, paternity and parental allowances
• Statistics on maternity grant
• Statistical reports on families with children in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on families with children
• Information on family leaves
• Research blog posts with ‘families with children’ as a keyword (tutkimusblogi.kela.fi)

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on benefits for families with children

Housing benefits

Kela provides the following housing benefits: general housing allowance, housing allowance for pensioners, student housing supplement and housing assistance for conscripts.

Statistics

• Statistics on general housing allowance
• Statistics on housing allowance for pensioners
• Reports on housing benefits in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Information on housing benefits

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on Kela housing benefits

International social security

The Finnish social security system is largely based on residence in Finland. Kela is responsible for the administration of the residence-based system.

Exchange of information

• EESSI, electronic exchange of information between EU countries

Statistics

• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Information on Kela benefits in international situations

Medicines

Statistics

• Statistics on reimbursements for medical expenses
• Statistics on reimbursement entitlements in respect of medicines
• Statistical reports on medicines and reimbursements in the Kelasto statistical database
• Finnish Statistics on Medicines on the Kela website
• Finnish Statistics on Medicines on Julkari (julkari.fi)
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures (medicines are found under Health Insurance)

Research

• Current research on medicines
• Information on drug reimbursement statistics
• Research blog posts with ‘medicines’ as a keyword (tutkimusblogi.kela.fi)

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on reimbursements for prescription medicines

Occupational health care

Kela provides compensations for occupational health care costs. Employers are entitled to compensation for the cost of arranging occupational health care. Self-employed persons and agricultural entrepreneurs have the option to arrange occupational health services for themselves and to receive compensation from Kela.

Statistics

• Statistics on occupational health care
• Statistical reports on occupational health care in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on occupational health care for individual customers

Pensions

Kela provides the following pension benefits: national pension, guarantee pension, survivors’ pension, child increase, front-veterans’ supplement and additional front-veterans’ supplement. National pension can be paid in the form of an old-age pension or a disability pension. Survivors’ pensions are awarded as either orphans’ pensions or spouses’ pensions.

Statistics

• Statistics on pensions provided by Kela
• Statistics on the housing allowance for pensioners
• Statistics on pensioners in Finland
• Statistics on total expenditure on pensions in Finland
• Reports on pensions in the Kelasto statistical database
• Statistics on pension recipients in Finland (in julkari.fi), published annually with the Finnish Centre for Pensions (etk.fi)
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on pensions

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on pensions provided by Kela

Rehabilitation

Kela provides access to various types of rehabilitation for persons of all ages, and supports the economic security of rehabilitation clients during rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is available in such forms as vocational rehabilitation, intensive medical rehabilitation and group rehabilitation courses, as well as cash rehabilitation allowances and reimbursements of travel expenses.

Statistics

• Statistics on the rehabilitation benefits provided by Kela
• Reports on rehabilitation in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on rehabilitation and work capacity

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on rehabilitation services and benefits provided by Kela

Sickness and incapacity

Statistics

• Statistics on reimbursements for medical expenses
• Statistics on sickness allowances
• Statistical reports on sickness and incapacity in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on sickness allowances
• Information on sickness absences
• Health Barometer

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on sickness and incapacity benefits

The social security system and Kela

Includes information on

• the social security system and Kela's role within it
• Kela’s operations, funding and finances
• the range of benefits available from Kela.

Statistics

• Summary reports on Kela benefits in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on Kela and the social security system
• Kela Finance Tree
• Financial flows in Finnish social and health services
• Research blog posts with ‘social security’ as a keyword (tutkimusblogi.kela.fi)

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Students

Students can get financial aid from Kela for post-comprehensive school education. It can be in the form of study grants, government guaranteed student loans, housing supplements, student loan compensations, interest assistance and school transport subsidies.

Statistics

• Statistics on financial aid for students
• Statistics on school transport subsidy
• Statistical reports on students in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela statistics in figures

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on financial aid for students provided by Kela

Unemployment

Kela pays unemployment benefits to unemployed persons who are not eligible for earnings-related unemployment allowance from an unemployment fund. Economic security during unemployment is provided by means of an unemployment allowance and an labour market subsidy.

Statistics

• Statistics on unemployment-related benefits provided by Kela
• Statistics on unemployment protection in Finland
• Statistical reports on unemployment benefits in the Kelasto statistical database
• Kela’s Statistical Yearbook
• Pocket Statistics
• Kela’s statistics in figures

Research

• Current research on the labour market
• Information in brief on unemployment benefits

Requests for data and research permits

• Statistical Information Service, statistics and general information
• Data permits, individual-level data

Additional information

• Up-to-date information on unemployment benefits provided by Kela