Online application for school transport subsidy published - subsidy for the new academic year can be applied for in the OmaKela e-service already before school starts
Kela has published a new online application for school transport subsidy, so school transport subsidy can be applied for easily and conveniently in the OmaKela e-service already before the new academic year starts. Students who continue their studies can already apply for the subsidy. If a student starts their upper secondary studies in the autumn, they can apply for the school transport subsidy once they have accepted their offer of admission. In academic year 2021-2022, about 57,400 students received school transport subsidy.
The application for school transport subsidy has changed. You can now apply for the subsidy in the OmaKela e-service with the new online application. Before this, you had to submit your application to your school.
– The application for school transport subsidy and the purchase of travel tickets are now going online. One consideration is that most applicants do not necessarily yet have their own online banking credentials to use online services, says Piia Kuusisto, Benefits Manager in Kela’s Student Financial Aid Group.
The school transport subsidy is intended for students in upper secondary education, and they can apply for school transport subsidy if they have a long commute to school. A total of about 57,400 students were granted school transport subsidy from Kela during the academic year 2021-2022, an increase of 36 per cent on the previous year. The number of recipients increased because compulsory education was extended to the age of 18 and upper secondary education was made free of charge. The terms of eligibility are somewhat different for students entitled to free education.
Young users have been involved in the development of the online application
When developing the online application, especially young mobile users’ needs were considered, so that young people could easily and conveniently fill in the application. Although the questions that are asked in the application can be complicated, the aim has been to keep the language of the application as clear as possible.
– The young persons also tested the application before it was published. The aim is that applying for the subsidy is easy and convenient, especially if you are contacting a public authority for the first time, says Helena Ikäheimo, Product Owner for the online application for school transport subsidy.
The school transport subsidy is often the first Kela benefit that young people apply for independently. The recipients of school transport subsidy are usually aged 16-19.
Instructions for students: how to apply for school transport subsidy in the OmaKela e-service
If a student is continuing their upper secondary studies in the coming academic year, they can already apply for the school transport subsidy. But if a student starts their upper secondary studies in the autumn, they can apply for the school transport subsidy once they have accepted their offer of admission.
Do as follows:
- Get your own online banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
- Log in to the OmaKela e-service and complete the online application for school transport subsidy.
- Send the application.
- If you use Matkahuolto buses, Waltti bus services or HSL, Nysse or Föli public transport for your trips to school, Kela can grant you the right to purchase tickets immediately after the application has been submitted. You can buy a subsidised ticket at the earliest on 18 July 2023.
- See information on your possible right to purchase tickets in OmaKela.
If a minor student cannot apply for school transport subsidy himself or herself, the student’s legal guardian can apply for the subsidy on behalf of the student. It is still also possible to apply for school transport subsidy on form KM 1e. The application form has also been updated, and the form must be submitted to Kela.
Subsidy for June and July 2023 must be applied for on an application form
If a student applies for school transport subsidy for June and July 2023, the subsidy must be applied for on an application form. The student must submit the form to the school. School transport subsidy for June and July cannot be applied for in the OmaKela e-service.