Changes in names and age limits of the disability allowances in 2027 – changes also in the disability allowance for children and young persons with coeliac disease
At the beginning of 2027, the names of the disability benefits will change and the upper age limit for the disability allowance for children will be raised to 18 years. At the same time, the lower age limit for the disability allowance for adults and the care allowance for pensioners will be raised to 18 years. The changes will usually not affect benefits already granted. However, the reform may bring changes for instance to young persons whose disability allowance has ended at age 16 and to children and young persons with coeliac disease.
From the beginning of 2027, the disability allowance for persons under 16 years of age will be renamed disability allowance for children and the disability allowance for persons aged 16 years or over will be renamed disability allowance for adults. The disability allowance for children will be available to persons under 18 years of age. At the same time, the lower age limit for the disability allowance for adults and the care allowance for pensioners will be raised to 18 years.
Kela has been using the names disability allowance for children and disability allowance for adults on its website for a long time. From the beginning of 2027, they will become the official names of the benefits and will also be used in the OmaKela e-service.
The eligibility criteria for the disability benefits will not change due to the changes in age limits and names. From the beginning of 2027, young persons aged 16 or 17 who have coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis can get disability allowance for children at the basic rate on the basis of a new special criterion for coeliac disease.
What does the change mean if you already get disability allowance?
If you currently get disability allowance, the legislative amendment usually does not require you to take any action.
The allowance will be paid in accordance with the current decision. When payment of the allowance ends, you can apply for continued payment of the allowance in accordance with the new age limits and other eligibility criteria. The allowance can also be reviewed if your situation changes. You do not need to submit a new application just because the name or age limit changes.
Age limit for disability allowance for children raised to 18 years
From the beginning of 2027, disability allowance for children can be paid to persons under 18 years of age. Currently, the upper age limit for the disability allowance for children is 16 years.
However, the rise in the age limit does not mean that everyone who previously received disability allowance for children will automatically get the allowance until the age of 18 years. If the period of disability allowance for children begins before 1 January 2027, the allowance is granted according to the current rules and can continue until the child reaches the age of 16 years at the most. If payment of the allowance ends when the child reaches the age of 16 years, you can apply for continued payment of the allowance.
Eligibility for the allowance will continue to be determined on the basis of the criteria laid down in law. In the case of the disability allowance for children, an assessment is made for instance of how much the child’s medical condition or disability increases the need for the person responsible for the care to provide more care and treatment than usual.
Children and young persons with coeliac disease can get disability allowance at the basic rate
From the beginning of 2027, children with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis can be granted disability allowance at the basic rate on the basis of a special criterion laid down in law. To qualify for the allowance, the child must have been diagnosed with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis and must therefore be on a gluten-free diet.
From the beginning of 2027, young persons aged 16 or 17 who have coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis can get disability allowance for children at the basic rate. The allowance can be granted on the basis of the special criterion without a separate assessment of whether the young person needs more care or treatment than other persons of the same age.
If the child is paid disability allowance on account of coeliac disease and the current decision extends to 2027, Kela can continue to pay the allowance without a new application until the age of 18 years. You do not have to do anything for the continued payment of the allowance. Kela will issue decisions on continued payment of the allowance in stages during spring 2027.
If the disability allowance granted on account of coeliac disease has ended before the beginning of 2027, you can apply for the allowance again as from 1 January 2027.
The special criterion for coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis only applies to these medical conditions. In the case of other medical conditions or disabilities, the entitlement to disability allowance for children will continue to be assessed individually on the basis of the usual eligibility criteria.
Frequently asked questions about the change in disability allowances
If the disability allowance for children ends before the end of 2026, you can apply for continued payment of the allowance.
You can apply for continued payment of the allowance within 6 months of the end of the allowance. In that case, the allowance can be granted retroactively.
If you turn 16 in December 2026 and get disability allowance for persons under 16 years of age, you do not have to submit an application for continued payment immediately. You should submit your application closer to the turn of the year.
The allowance can be extended retroactively for a maximum of 6 months. Therefore, in 2027, Kela may also decide applications that concern the period before 2027. The decisive factor is the start date of payment.
If your disability allowance has ended at age 16 and you currently do not get a disability benefit, you can apply for disability allowance for children as from 1 January 2027.
Kela will assess your eligibility on the basis of your application.
You do not have to do anything just because of the legislative change. The disability allowance for adults will continue in accordance with the current decision.
The official names of the benefits will change from the beginning of 2027.
However, it is the same benefit as before. Kela has been using the names disability allowance for children and disability allowance for adults on its website for a long time.