Changes in the opening hours of Kela’s customer service points during summer
We recommend handling Kela-related matters online or by phone also during the summer. Many of Kela’s customer service points have changed opening hours during the summer, and the new opening hours will take effect starting 29 May 2023.
You can handle most Kela-related matters online: apply for benefits, check decisions, view benefit payment dates and send messages to Kela. The e-service is available in Finnish and Swedish. A chatbot on Kela’s website gives advice on social assistance and family benefits in Finnish and Swedish. Kela also provides service on Facebook and Instagram.
If you cannot find an answer to your question on the internet, you can call Kela’s customer service number. Customer service is available by phone every day from 9am to 3pm. By phone you can handle all the same Kela-related matters as by visiting one of Kela’s customer service points. Phone service is available in English.
Customers can also book appointments for phone service, in which case Kela calls the customer. Phone appointments can be booked online or by calling any of the customer service numbers.
Service in the Sami languages in the summer
Kela provides service in Northern Sami by phone and remotely on weekdays 9am–11am at 020 634 2894 during the whole summer. Kela provides service in Skolt Sami by phone and remotely on weekdays 9am–11am at 020 634 4795 (closed from 10 July to 4 August). Service in Inari Sami is provided through interpretation. Customers who speak Sami are welcome to send a contact request by email to saame@kela.fi. Information about Kela’s services in the Sami languages is available at www.kela.fi/saame.
Changes in the opening hours of the customer service points starting 29 May 2023
The opening hours of many of Kela’s customer service points will change for the summer. The summertime opening hours will take effect starting from 30 May 2023 and end by 30 September 2023 at the latest.
The customer service points in the central parts of the larger towns and cities will be open normally or almost normally. There are more changes concerning smaller customer service points. It is a good idea to check the opening hours of the customer service points at www.suomi.fi.
How can I handle Kela-related matters if it is not possible to do it on the internet or by phone, and the nearest customer service point is closed?
In many places there are service points that are operated jointly by several authorities, and they provide general advice in Kela-related matters. Advice in Kela-related matters is also provided by for instance Ohjaamo and Lähitori guidance centres and service centres. Kela’s remote service is also available in many locations, in other words, a computer through which you can contact a customer service specialist from Kela via a video and audio connection. The remote service is comparable to service at one of Kela’s customer service points. You can check the locations at www.suomi.fi.
You can also contact your home municipality’s social services, services for the disabled or healthcare organisations. They can for instance help you to book an appointment for telephone service. When an appointment for telephone service is booked for you, a customer service specialist from Kela will call you at the agreed time. The call is free of charge.
Paper documents should preferably be sent to Kela at the address Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Opening hours of the customer service points starting 29 May 2023