Easter affects Kela’s opening hours and payment schedules
Because of Easter, unemployment status reports are filed and unemployment benefits paid earlier than usual. Customers whose application and supporting documents arrive at Kela by 15 March 2024 will have their social assistance payment for March deposited into their account before Easter. On Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024, regular customer service will be available until 13.00, while service for customers with an urgent need of social assistance will be available until 16.00.
Because of Easter, unemployment status reports are filed and unemployment benefits paid earlier than usual.
If the period for the unemployment status report ends on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, or Wednesday, 27 March 2024, the report can be filed on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, and the payment will be deposited into the recipient’s account on Thursday, 28 March 2024, at the earliest.
If the period for the unemployment status report ends on Thursday, 28 March 2024, the report can be filed on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, and the payment will be deposited into the recipient’s account on Tuesday, 2 April 2024, at the earliest.
If the period for the unemployment status report ends on Friday, 29 March 2024, Saturday, 30 March 2024, or Sunday, 31 March 2024, the report can be filed on Thursday, 28 March 2024, and the payment will be deposited into the recipient’s account on Wednesday, 3 April 2024, at the earliest.
It is a good idea to file the unemployment status report in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) already in the morning, so that the report can be processed as soon as possible.
How Easter affects applying for social assistance
The last payment date for March's social assistance before Easter is Thursday, 28 March 2024. Customers will have their social assistance payment deposited into their account by then if their application and other required documents arrive at Kela by 15 March 2024.
For customers with an urgent need of social assistance, Kela will operate a helpline and keep a presence at selected customer service points until 16.00 on Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024. Urgent situations include situations where customers urgently need a voucher to buy food or medicines, for example.
If customers have an urgent need of social assistance outside Kela’s opening hours, the wellbeing services counties may provide preventive social assistance at their discretion. Customers whose situation becomes critical during the Easter holidays may contact the emergency social services of their wellbeing services county.
Customer service opening hours over Easter
On Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024, Kela’s phone service will be open 9.00–13.00, but in urgent situations, it will be possible to call the customer service number for social assistance, 020 634 2550, until 16.00. You can look up Kela’s customer service numbers online at www.kela.fi/call-kela.
Service points open on Thursdays will have changes to their opening hours on Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024. The service points open on Thursdays will close at 13.00 at the latest, but some of them will provide service to customers in need of urgent social assistance until 16.00. The following service points will provide service to customers in need of urgent social assistance:
• Espoo/Leppävaara
• Helsinki/Kamppi
• Hämeenlinna
• Joensuu
• Jyväskylä
• Kajaani
• Kokkola
• Kotka
• Kuopio
• Lahti
• Lappeenranta
• Oulu
• Pori
• Raisio
• Rauma
• Rovaniemi
• Salo
• Seinäjoki
• Tampere
• Turku
• Vaasa
• Vantaa/Tikkurila.
Check the service point addresses at www.kela.fi/visit-kela.
Kela’s service points and phone service will be closed on the following days:
• Good Friday, 29 March 2024
• Easter Saturday, 30 March 2024
• Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024
• Easter Monday, 1 April 2024.
Easter opening hours for partners
On Holy Thursday, 28 March 2024, Kela will provide assistance to its partners until 13.00. However, Kela’s physician phone service will be closed on Holy Thursday. All service numbers for partners will be closed between 29 March and 1 April 2024.
Edited on March 22 2024: Joensuu was added to the list of service points open on Holy Thursday, March 28 2024.