Acting on behalf of another person in Kela-related matters

If another person has Kela-related affairs that they cannot or do not wish to manage independently, you can do so on their behalf. 

There are different ways to manage another person’s Kela-related affairs, depending on the person’s age and your role in the matter. Acting on behalf of another adult always requires permission, or in other words, authorisation.

All Kela-related matters can be managed on behalf of another person by phone, by post or by visiting a customer service point. In addition, some matters can be managed on behalf of another person in the OmaKela e-service. Please note that OmaKela is only available in Finnish and Swedish. The possibilities to act on behalf of another person in OmaKela are developed and implemented gradually.

Acting on behalf of a child

As a guardian of a child under the age of 15, you can manage all of your child’s affairs by phone, by post or by visiting a customer service point, and partially in OmaKela.

Children aged 15–17 years can manage their own affairs by phone, by post or by visiting a customer service point, if they wish. If the child has their own online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, they can also use OmaKela to manage their affairs independently.

Acting on behalf of a child in OmaKela

How to act on behalf of your child in OmaKela:

1. Log in to OmaKela (in Finnish or Swedish) using your banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
2. Select Asioi toisen henkilön puolesta (Act on behalf of another person).
3. Choose the child whose affairs you wish to manage. 

The possibilities to act on behalf of another person online are developed gradually. Currently, you can do the following on behalf of your child in OmaKela:

• see which matters are pending and track their progress
• see payments and payment dates
• apply for some benefits
• send supporting documents
• view decisions and other documents concerning your child. 

Each guardian is able to see the same information while acting on behalf of their child in OmaKela.  

The child’s guardian does not have the authority to act on behalf of the child if the child has been taken into custody.

Acting on behalf of a child in OmaKela in different situations

In general, both parents can act on behalf of their child. However, the Population Information System may contain information that affects the ability to act on behalf of a child in OmaKela. For example, a non-disclosure for personal safety reasons or a joint custody agreement may affect a guardian’s ability to act on behalf of their child, and the guardian may need a Suomi.fi mandate to do so.

Acting on behalf of another adult

You can act on behalf of another adult:

• by phone, by post or by visiting a customer service point if you have been granted a power of attorney
• in OmaKela if you have been granted a Suomi.fi mandate.

Please note that if you wish to manage Kela-related matters on behalf of another person both online and by phone, you must have a Suomi.fi mandate and a power of attorney.

Another person can also be authorised verbally over the phone or at a customer service point. Verbal authorisations are usually valid for one-time use only. Kela will verify the identity of both the customer giving authorisation and the person being authorised. If there is a continuous need to act on behalf of another person, authorisation should be given through a power of attorney. 

For certain benefits, a close relative or another person who is primarily responsible for the benefit applicant can be heard on a benefit-related matter so that the applicant’s Kela-related affairs can be handled in a flexible manner. This is possible if, for example, the person cannot apply for a benefit independently because of an illness or other similar reasons.

Acting on behalf of another adult in OmaKela

You can act on behalf of another adult in OmaKela if they have granted you a Suomi.fi mandate called Manage social security benefits. The easiest way to grant the mandate is to use the Suomi.fi online service. You can also get a mandate from a person who does not use online services or have online banking credentials.

Read more about granting another person a Suomi.fi mandate to act in Kela-related matters.

How to act on behalf of another person in OmaKela:

1. Log in to OmaKela (in Finnish or Swedish) using your banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
2. Select Asioi toisen henkilön puolesta (Act on behalf of another person).
3. Choose the person whose affairs you wish to manage.

The possibilities to act on behalf of another person online are developed gradually. Currently, you can do the following on behalf of another person in OmaKela:

• see which matters are pending and track their progress
• see payments and payment dates
• apply for some benefits
• send supporting documents
• view decisions and other documents.  

For now, guardians cannot use OmaKela to act on behalf of their clients.

Continuing power of attorney

If you wish to authorise someone else for the event that you are unable to manage your own affairs, you can issue a continuing power of attorney. In order to issue a continuing power of attorney, you must draw up an official document for it.

If the continuing power of attorney covers your financial affairs, it is accepted as a valid power of attorney by Kela. However, the continuing power of attorney must first be confirmed by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. In order for the authorised person to act on your behalf in Kela-related matters, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s Register of Guardianship Affairs must show that the continuing power of attorney has been confirmed at the Agency. Once the continuing power of attorney has been confirmed, the authorised person will not need a separate power of attorney or a Suomi.fi mandate. 

A continuing power of attorney is different from guardianship. A continuing power of attorney gives you the chance to decide in advance who will manage your affairs and how. It is an easier and more flexible way to act on behalf of another person than appointing a guardian, for example. Learn more about the continuing power of attorney on the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s website.

Guardianship

As a guardian, you can act on behalf of your client by phone, by post and by visiting a customer service point. Kela gets information on guardians directly from the Population Information System. For now, guardians cannot use OmaKela to act on behalf of their clients. Over the next few years, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will gradually improve the possibilities for guardians to manage their clients’ affairs online. Public guardians can also use services intended for partner organisations (in Finnish or Swedish).

If a client has previously authorised another person to act on their behalf, for instance by granting a power of attorney or Suomi.fi mandate, this authorisation ends when a guardian is appointed for the client.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency or a court can assign a public guardian to a person who is not able to manage their own affairs. The guardian can be a private individual, such as a family member or some other person who is close to the client, or a public guardian. Read more about guardianship on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.