This autumn, Kela monitored the study progress of approximately 283,000 students. Based on the monitoring, the student financial aid will be discontinued for approximately 4,700 students, and most of them are higher education students.

Financial aid will be discontinued for some students due to insufficient study progress

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

The change is part of an EU reform to improve the exchange of health data and the quality of care in Europe. The use of patient data outside Finland requires that the patient has given their consent to do so in MyKanta.

Treatment of Finnish patients in Estonia will become easier – Estonian healthcare will soon be able to utilise Finnish patient data

Kela will stop its unofficial service of confirming a pension recipient’s vital status to foreign pension providers as of 1 January 2026. Going forward, vital status must be confirmed by ordering a life certificate from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) instead.

Kela to stop confirming vital status for foreign pensions as of 1 January 2026 – order a life certificate from DVV instead 

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

The reimbursements from Kela for the costs of appointments with a doctor in private practice will increase from 8 euros to 30 euros as of 1 January 2024. The reimbursements from Kela for psychiatric care and for dental examinations performed by a dentist will also increase.

Increased reimbursements from Kela for private medical care

Children and young persons under 18 who have fled the war in Ukraine may be entitled to social assistance, if they are permanently resident in Finland and their parents cannot provide for them and they have no other means of securing a living. The adult who cares for the child is entitled to child benefit.

Minors who come from Ukraine to Finland without their families can get benefits from Kela

The new version of MyKanta will be launched in stages from autumn 2023. We are actively listening to users as we develop the service. The first functionality that you will be able to try out in the new version of MyKanta is the Prescriptions section.

The launch of the new version of MyKanta has begun – renew your prescription and give us feedback 

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

The MyKanta application now meets client needs even better than before In addition to renewing prescriptions, the application now also enables the viewing of doctor’s or nurse’s records and laboratory test results.

Kela gets the tax withholding information for 2026 directly from the Tax Administration. If Kela pays you benefits, we still recommend that you check the income ceiling (tuloraja) of your tax card and request a new tax card if necessary.

Taxation of Kela benefits in 2026 – request a new tax card if necessary

Parliament has passed legislation introducing stricter rules concerning mandatory waiting periods (karenssi) for unemployment benefits and a reform of social assistance. Under the new legislation, employment services may impose the sanction of a mandatory waiting period on an unemployed person after just one failure to look for work or participate in employment services. Additionally, Kela may reduce the basic amount of social assistance as a consequence of a mandatory waiting period.

Stricter sanctions for unemployment benefits recipients – sanctions may lead to reduced social assistance

Дитина віком до 18 років, яка втекла з України, рятуючись від війни, може мати право отримати соціальну допомогу на засоби для існування, якщо вона постійно проживає у Фінляндії, і її батьки не в змозі дбати про її утримання та вона не може іншим чином отримати достатні засоби до існування. Доросла особа, яка доглядає за дитиною, має право на дитячу допомогу. (in Ukrainian)

Неповнолітня особа, яка приїхала до Фінляндії з України без сім’ї, може отримувати соціальну допомогу від Kela (in Ukrainian)

The meal subsidy will be raised at the beginning of the year, but at the same time the price for student meals will also increase. Kela encourages students to use the subsidised lunches, as they support wellbeing and a sense of community.

Higher education students will pay more for student meals

Ребёнок или подросток в возрасте до 18 лет, бежавший от войны в Украине, может иметь право на пособие по обеспечению прожиточного минимума, если он постоянно проживает в Финляндии, и его родители не в состоянии его обеспечить, или он не может иным образом получить прожиточный минимум. Взрослый, на иждивении которого находится ребёнок, имеет право на получение пособия на ребёнка. (in Russian)

Несовершеннолетний ребёнок, приехавший в Финляндию из Украины без семьи, может получать пособия Kela (in Russian)

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

OmaKela will become the main channel for Kela to deliver decision notices and letters to customers from the beginning of 2026. Customers who do not use OmaKela will still get paper copies of decision notices and letters by mail.

Decision notices and letters delivered primarily via OmaKela as of 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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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>

Customer service points where service is provided by Kela’s employees. You can get personal advice in all Kela-related matters.

Service points where service is provided by the municipality’s employees. You can get general guidance on Kela’s benefits and services. You can pick up forms and brochures and file applications.

<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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