Maximum limits for housing costs in social assistance to change in 2027 – check how the change will affect you
The maximum limits that Kela applies to acceptable housing costs when calculating social assistance will change on 1 January 2027. This change may affect how much social assistance you can get for your housing costs. On this page, we explain what the change means in practice and what you should do if Kela pays you social assistance.
An amendment has been introduced to the Act on Social Assistance that changes how municipality-specific maximum limits are calculated for acceptable housing costs in social assistance (toimeentulotuki).
After the amendment enters into force on 1 January 2027, a new calculation model will be used to set and adjust the maximum limits. This means that the maximum limits may increase in some municipalities and decrease in others.
The maximum limits for acceptable housing costs vary based on municipality and family size. For example, the maximum limit will increase in 61 municipalities and decrease in 95 municipalities next year for customers on social assistance who live alone. In 136 municipalities, the maximum limits will stay the same for customers living alone. These municipalities include Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere and Pori. In addition, there will be no change in the maximum limits for any family size for example in Vantaa, Lahti or Jyväskylä.
Amount-wise, the maximum limits for acceptable housing costs will usually change by a few dozen euros.
The law will change to bring the housing costs taken into account in social assistance better in line with how much housing in different municipalities actually costs.
The aim is to ensure that the maximum limits for acceptable housing costs can be adjusted more easily to reflect changes in housing costs across Finland.
You can find a table that shows the maximum limits for housing costs in all municipalities on Kela’s website.
Check the maximum limit in your municipality
If you live together with others, remember to take that into account as well. The maximum limit for housing costs is affected by both your municipality of residence (kotikunta) and the size of your family.
If your rent or other housing costs exceed the maximum limit that applies in your municipality, you do not have to do anything right away.
Kela will assess your situation as a whole. In some cases, Kela can take into account housing costs that are higher than the maximum limit. This can happen for example for health-related reasons or on other special grounds.
If you do not have any special grounds that would justify higher housing costs, we will tell you to find more affordable housing within 3 months.
If you have not moved to more affordable housing within the time limit, Kela will then take your housing costs into account up to the municipality-specific limit. Kela may extend the time limit in some situations. This means that you do not have to move out of your home, but if you do not move, you will have to pay the part of your housing costs that exceeds the maximum limit for your municipality.
Kela will assess your situation separately if your housing costs exceed the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs in your municipality.
If you do not have any special grounds that would justify higher housing costs, Kela may give you a time limit to find more affordable housing.
If you have not moved to more affordable housing within the time limit, Kela will then take your housing costs into account up to the municipality-specific limit. This means that you do not have to move out of your home, but if you do not move, you will have to pay the part of your housing costs that exceeds the maximum limit for your municipality.
Tell Kela if you have actively tried to look for more affordable housing but none is available. Kela may give you more time to find more affordable housing.
No, it will not. This legislative amendment only applies to housing costs that are taken into account in social assistance.
The amendment does not apply to:
- general housing allowance
- housing allowance for pensioners
- housing supplement for students.
The change may affect you if
- Kela pays you social assistance
- your housing costs are close to the maximum limit for your municipality
- your housing costs exceed the maximum limit for your municipality.
The upcoming change will not affect you at all if your housing costs are below the new maximum limit or if the maximum limit for your municipality does not change in 2027.
Check the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs in your municipality
Maija lives with her partner Harry in Imatra. They pay EUR 550 per month in rent. In Imatra, the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs for 2 people is EUR 585 per month in 2027. This is EUR 21 less than in 2026.
The upcoming change will not affect Maija and Harry’s social assistance because their housing costs do not exceed the new maximum limit for their municipality. Kela will take EUR 550 per month into account as housing costs in their social assistance.
Check the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs in your municipality
John lives alone in Jämijärvi. He pays EUR 400 per month in rent. In Jämijärvi, the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs for a person living alone is EUR 384 per month in 2027. This is EUR 20 less than in 2026. John's rent exceeds the maximum limit by EUR 16.
If John does not have special grounds to justify housing costs that exceed the maximum limit, Kela will tell him to find more affordable housing. Alternatively, John can continue to live in his current home, but he has to pay the part of his rent that exceeds the maximum limit (EUR 16) himself.
Check the maximum limit for acceptable housing costs in your municipality