Do you get housing allowance for pensioners? Notify Kela of changes in time
If your life situation, housing costs, income or assets change, you must notify Kela so that your housing allowance for pensioners can be reviewed. This ensures that the allowance is paid in the correct amount.
The housing allowance for pensioners is reviewed periodically when two years have passed since the allowance was granted or last reviewed. Kela will send you a letter and instructions before the review is due. If your life situation or income changes before the periodic review, you must request a review of the allowance yourself.
It is important to notify Kela of changes in time – even if the change seems small. This ensures that the allowance remains correct and helps you avoid possible recovery of overpaid benefits. If you do not notify Kela of changes, the allowance may be overpaid. In that case, the excess amount may be recovered.
When must the housing allowance for pensioners be reviewed?
Apply for a review of the housing allowance if
- your or your spouse’s combined income increases by at least EUR 1,018 per year (about EUR 85 per month) or decreases by EUR 509 per year (about EUR 42 per month).
- you move out of the home for which the allowance was granted
- your family circumstances change (you get married, move in with a partner, get divorced or your cohabitation ends)
- your spouse’s entitlement to housing allowance for pensioners begins or ends
- your annual housing costs change by at least EUR 204 (about EUR 17 per month)
- the number of persons living in your home changes
- your or your spouse’s assets change (for example, you receive an inheritance)
- you enter or leave long-term institutional care
- you move abroad or stay there
- you are granted general housing allowance
You can check with the housing allowance calculator how the changes affect the allowance.
Liisa receives an old-age pension from Kela of EUR 703 per month and a guarantee pension of EUR 288 per month. Her spouse Matti receives an old-age pension from Kela of EUR 65 per month and an earnings-related pension of EUR 1,498 per month.
At the beginning of 2026, pensions will be increased by index adjustments. After the adjustments, Liisa and Matti’s pensions will increase by a total of EUR 18 per month, i.e. EUR 216 per year. In addition, Matti does occasional work and earns about EUR 100 per month, i.e. EUR 1,200 per year.
Altogether, Liisa and Matti’s annual income increases by EUR 1,416.
The housing allowance for pensioners must be reviewed if the spouses’ combined income increases by at least EUR 1,018 per year (about EUR 85 per month) in 2026. Since Liisa and Matti’s income increases by more than this, they must notify Kela of the change and file an application for review of the housing allowance for pensioners.
How to review the allowance easily
- Log in to OmaKela.
- Select Housing allowance for pensioners on the front page.
- Under the allowance, select Notify of changes.
- Complete the application and add the necessary attachments (e.g. lease agreement, income details). The application tells you which attachments are needed.
- Send the application. The decision will be available in OmaKela.
If you cannot use OmaKela, complete the housing allowance for pensioners application form (PDF) and send it to Kela, PO Box 10, 00056 KELA.
If the review is forgotten
If you do not notify Kela of changes in time, the housing allowance for pensioners may be overpaid. If you have been overpaid, we will contact you before deciding whether to recover the excess amount.
You will receive a request for clarification, which you can respond to in OmaKela, by post or by phone. In the clarification, you can provide information about your income and expenses, for example, if they affect the repayment.
Also remember the periodic review
The housing allowance for pensioners is reviewed periodically when two years have passed since the allowance was granted or last reviewed. Kela will send a letter and instructions before the review date. Even if your situation has not changed, the housing allowance for pensioners must be reviewed. So submit the application in time to ensure uninterrupted payment of the allowance.