Large number of changes planned for social security in 2026

Next year, the basic unemployment allowance and the labour market subsidy will be EUR 37.21 per day, as in 2023–2025. In autumn 2023, Parliament decided that a number of Kela benefits would be frozen, meaning that they will not be increased in line with the National Pensions Index between 2024 and 2027.

Read more about the freeze in the National Pensions Index.

The Government has proposed the adoption of stricter mandatory waiting periods for unemployment benefits. Mandatory waiting periods are periods of time during which the unemployed do not get any unemployment benefits. This change would apply to the unemployment benefits paid by both Kela and unemployment funds. If the government proposal passes into law, the stricter mandatory waiting periods will come into effect on 1 January 2026.

Read more about the changes to mandatory waiting periods.

The Government has proposed the adoption of a new general social security benefit as of 1 May 2026. If the proposal passes into law, the new benefit will replace the labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance currently paid by Kela. At present, there are approximately 190,000 recipients of labour market subsidy while some 30,000 people receive basic unemployment allowance. The general social security benefit will be paid to unemployed jobseekers who do not qualify for or have temporarily used up their earnings-related unemployment allowance.

It has been proposed that the basic amount of the general social security benefit will be EUR 37.21 per day (about EUR 800 per month). It corresponds to the existing labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance in 2025. The amount of general social security benefit is reduced by any capital income the applicant receives and by certain other benefits. If an unemployed jobseeker receives any earned income, it will also reduce the amount of general social security benefit. The income of the applicant’s partner does not affect the amount of general social security benefit.

Read more about the general social security benefit.

The Government proposes a reform of social assistance that seeks to impose stricter requirements as of 1 February 2026.

If the proposal passes into law, the basic amount of social assistance will be reduced by 50% if the customer does not apply within a set deadline for the primary benefits they are likely entitled to. Primary benefits refer to benefits such as unemployment benefits, sickness allowance and financial aid for students.

Read more about primary benefits.

The proposal also aims to make the obligation to apply for full-time work stricter. If a customer does not register as a jobseeker looking for full-time work within one month despite being told to do so, Kela will reduce the basic amount of their social assistance by 50%. The obligation to apply for work would apply to a greater number of applicants than before.

In addition to this, the Government proposes cuts of 2–3% to the basic amount of social assistance paid to anyone over the age of 18. For someone aged 18 or over and living alone, the cut would amount to a reduction of EUR 17.80 in the basic amount of their social assistance, calculated at the 2025 rate.

Read more about the changes in social assistance.

The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Child Maintenance Allowance. These would allow Kela to review the income and tax data of a person liable for the maintenance of a child and to notify their wellbeing services county if there are any changes in the person’s financial situation. If the proposal is passed by Parliament, the amendments will go into effect on 1 January 2026.

Read more about the change to child maintenance allowance.

The Government is proposing additions to the list of factors that qualify a parent for special pregnancy allowance. The existing list is to be supplemented with further factors that may pose a risk to the pregnant parent or the foetus. The Government is also proposing to clarify the qualifying requirements for the special care allowance. Special care allowance would be made available to parents who participate in the specialist-level treatment or rehabilitation of their child.

Read more about the changes to special pregnancy allowance and special care allowance.

The Government has proposed an increase in the maternity grant as part of the Government budget proposal for 2026. The maternity grant will increase by EUR 40 to EUR 210 as of 1 April 2026. The maternity grant is granted either in the form of a maternity package or a one-off payment. At present, the maternity grant is the equivalent of EUR 170.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing a government proposal concerning changes to the child home care allowance. The proposed provisions would introduce a three-year residence requirement for both parents in a family as a condition for receiving child home care allowance. In single-parent families, the requirement for a minimum period of residence would apply to the parent residing with the child. The government proposal is slated to be submitted to Parliament in spring 2026.

Read more in the press release published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

There will be no increases to child benefits in 2026. Child maintenance allowances and child support payments will be increased in line with the Cost-of-Living Index as of 1 January 2026. The minimum rates of daily allowances for parents, the rates of child care allowances and the income limits applicable to these allowances will not be index adjusted at the beginning of the year. Instead, the rates of these allowances will remain the same as in 2023–2025.

The initial deductible and the maximum annual limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs will be increased by 0.5% in line with the National Pensions Index as of 1 January 2026. In 2026, the initial deductible on prescription medicines will be EUR 70.33, while the maximum annual limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs will be EUR 636.12. Low-income customers now have a new option: credit for medicine costs from Kela. This allows customers to pay the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs in instalments.

Read more about credit for medicine costs.

The reimbursements from Kela for the costs for private medical care will be cut. The reimbursement from Kela for the costs of appointments with a private general practitioner or specialist will decrease from EUR 30 to EUR 8 as of 1 January 2026. The reimbursements for appointments with private gynaecologists and psychiatrists will remain unchanged.

Customers who are 65 or older can see a private general practitioner at the price of the local user fee charged by public healthcare providers. This option is provided as part of a pilot study on freedom of choice in healthcare for persons aged 65 or over, which began in September and will continue until the end of 2027.

Read more about the freedom of choice pilot.

The Government is proposing a change to the donor allowance paid on account of human cell, tissue and organ donation. As of 2026, the Government proposes that the donor allowance should compensate for the donor’s actual loss of income due to cell, tissue or organ donation and any necessary associated tests or examinations.

Read more about the change to donor allowance.

The pensions paid by Kela (national pension and guarantee pension), along with disability allowances and front-veterans’ supplements will be increased by 0.5% as of 1 January 2026 in line with the National Pensions Index. The full amount of the guarantee pension will be EUR 990.90 per month in 2026. The full amount is paid out if the pensioner is not paid any other pensions or if their pensions are very small.

For the euro amounts of benefits as of 1 January 2026, see this table (in Finnish).

The amounts of the heating, water and maintenance costs or maximum housing costs taken into account in the housing allowance for pensioners will not be increased in 2026. The amounts will stay the same as in 2023–2025.

There will be no index adjustments to the general housing allowance either in 2026. This means that the rules for determining the benefit will remain the same as in 2025.

Study grant rates will not be index adjusted. Instead, the rates will stay the same as in 2023–2025. An 18-year-old student living alone will qualify for a study grant of EUR 279.38 per month in 2026.