Processing times for applications for general social security benefit are longer than usual
It currently takes longer than usual for customers to get their first decision on general social security benefit from Kela. The reasons for the longer processing times include increased unemployment, graduating students and applicants whose periods of earnings-related unemployment allowance are ending. Kela expects to resolve the situation within the next few weeks.
Processing times for first-time applications for general social security benefit are currently longer than usual at Kela. This week, first-time applications for general social security benefit have been processed in an average of 3–4 weeks.
Under the Unemployment Security Act, Kela must issue a decision on general social security benefit no later than 30 calendar days after the application has arrived at Kela.
Kela clears application backlog with help from summer employees
The reasons behind the increase in applications for general social security benefit include increased unemployment, graduating students and applications for general social security benefit from unemployed persons whose earnings-related unemployment allowance has ended.
Kela regrets the inconvenience and says that processing times are expected to go back to normal in the next few weeks.
“We always prepare for an increased inflow of applications in summer by working overtime and hiring extra summer staff. The situation should be back to normal by the end of summer,” says Tiina Ahponen, Head of Kela’s Centre for Unemployment Benefits.
Follow-up applications for general social security benefit will be processed within the usual processing time
The processing of follow-up applications for general social security benefit (unemployment status reports) currently takes less than 7 days.
Customers can go to OmaKela to see if Kela has received their application and if a decision has been issued. OmaKela is available in Finnish and Swedish. If there is no decision yet, OmaKela will show an estimate of the processing time.
General social security benefit is a new benefit that replaced previous unemployment benefits available from Kela, namely labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance, in May 2026.