Working and studying when you are on a disability pension
Salaried employment may affect the payment of your disability pension. You can study while receiving a disability pension or rehabilitation subsidy.
Working when you are on a disability pension
If you start salaried employment, report it to Kela and your authorised pension provider. Earnings and income from self-employment affect the payment of the disability pension. Your earnings can also affect the housing allowance and your taxes.
Kela will continue to pay you a disability pension if your earnings before taxes (gross earnings) do not exceed EUR 976.59 per month.
If you receive a disability pension from Kela and your earnings exceed the amount specified above for 3 months in a row, the payment of your pension will be suspended. The payment may be suspended for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 2 years.
If you receive the care allowance for pensioners while drawing a disability pension, and the payment of your pension is suspended because of your earnings, the payment of the care allowance will also end. However, Kela can pay you disability allowance at the highest rate in place of the care allowance.
If the disability pension has been granted on the basis of permanent blindness or mobility disability, you can work without your earnings affecting the payment of the pension.
However, working does affect the guarantee pension. If you receive a guarantee pension, you can earn a maximum of EUR 976.59 per month without your earnings affecting the guarantee pension.
Return to work
When the payment of your disability pension has been suspended for two years and your work still continues, your disability pension will end.
If your health deteriorates again, you can file a new application for disability pension. Your work capacity will be assessed again.
Studying when you are on a disability pension
You can study while drawing a disability pension or rehabilitation subsidy. If you study for a new profession or university degree, you can plan how to start working or return to work. You can receive support for this from Kela and the TE Services.
When you graduate, tell Kela about it. If you receive a disability pension from an earnings-related pension scheme, you should also notify your authorised pension provider of completing your degree. Kela and the authorised pension provider will assess your eligibility to a disability pension.