Do you work part-time? You can get general social security benefit even if you do
You can get general social security benefit at the same time as you work part-time, work full-time for a short period or are temporarily self-employed. If you are paid wages or a salary during the time you are unemployed, the general social security benefit will be adjusted to take your earned income into account. There is an online calculator you can use to estimate how much your earned income will reduce your general social security benefit.
Here is what you need to know about the adjusted general social security benefit:
1. You can get adjusted general social security benefit in several different situations. For example, the general social security benefit can be adjusted to take your wages into account if you work part-time, temporarily work full-time, are laid off part-time or are self-employed for a maximum of two weeks.
Read more about who can get general social security benefit.
2. You get more money if you work part-time while you are unemployed, because your general social security benefit will be adjusted to take your wages or salary into account.
If you work part-time (meaning that you work up to 80 per cent of the normal full-time hours in your industry), the full amount of your earnings is not deducted from your unemployment benefit. Only half of your earnings before taxes are deducted from your unemployment benefit.
For example, if you earn EUR 1,000 per month, your unemployment benefit is reduced by EUR 500. By working part-time, you increase your total income by EUR 500, compared with just the unemployment benefit.
You can use the calculator for general social security benefit to estimate how much your wages or salary will reduce your general social security benefit.
3. It is easy to apply for adjusted general social security benefit because you do not have to know in advance how many days you will work. Report the days you have worked to Kela on the unemployment status report after you have done the work.
You do not have to send your payslips to Kela because Kela gets information on your earnings directly from the Incomes Register. Kela will ask you for further information if needed.
4. Wages and salaries affect the general social security benefit in the month in which they are paid to you.
Example: If you worked in June and are paid in July, your general social security benefit for July will be adjusted to take your wages into account.
5. Stay registered with the employment services as an active jobseeker even if you work part-time or do other occasional work. Adjusted general social security benefit can only be paid to you when you are registered as an active jobseeker.
PS: Do you get general housing allowance in addition to your general social security benefit? Your household’s income, including wages and salaries and many social security benefits, such as general social security benefit, all affect the amount of the housing allowance. Let Kela know if your household’s income increases by EUR 400 per month or more, or if it decreases by EUR 200 per month or more. You can report changes in the OmaKela e-service.