Longer wait times on housing allowance decisions for 2023
Kela will begin to process applications for new or reviewed housing allowance awards for 2023 in mid-December. The processing can start once Kela has all of the information needed to determine the amount of the allowance.
Kela will not be ready to start processing applications for housing allowance for 2023 until around mid-December. The processing of pensioners’ housing allowance claims will start a little earlier. Applications can be processed once all of the information needed to determine the amount of the allowance is available.
The Government has proposed a temporary amendment to the general housing allowance scheme, which would remain in effect for the duration of 2023. The Government’s bill outlining the amendment is being reviewed by Parliament.
Some of the qualifying criteria for the housing allowance for pensioners are confirmed annually in a Government decree. That decree has not yet been issued for 2023.
Some of the criteria according to which the general housing allowance and the housing allowance for pensioners are determined are linked to certain indexes, which are fixed yearly. Further, the housing allowances available from Kela can be affected by receiving a number of other social benefits, the rates of which are also adjusted at the turn of the year.
Have you applied for housing allowance or for a review of your housing allowance, and your application is for 2023?
If you have applied for housing allowance for 2023, the wait time for a decision on your application will be longer than it usually takes to process applications. This is because of changes that will be made at the turn of the year.
You can check the status of your application in OmaKela. See when your application was received, whether it has been processed, how much you have been granted, and what is the next payment date.
The benefit calculators on Kela’s website will be updated in January. Currently, they show how much housing allowance you could get based on 2022 information.