What benefits can you get as a self-employed person?
As a self-employed person you are entitled to the same benefits as employees. The earned income under the YEL (Self-Employed Persons’ Pensions Act) or MYEL (Farmers’ Pensions Act) pension insurance schemes for self-employed persons affects the amount of daily allowances, unemployment allowances and pensions.
- From unemployed to self-employed
If you are unemployed and starting a business, check if you are entitled to unemployment benefits.
Read more about the unemployment benefits for self-employed persons. - Benefits for self-employed persons
As a self-employed person you can receive the same benefits from Kela as employees.
Learn more about the benefits for self-employed persons. - If self-employment ends
If your self-employment ends, you may be entitled to Kela benefits.
Read more about ending self-employment.
What else is going on in your life?
Are you starting a business?
When you start a business, you must, among other things, take care of the banking and taxation matters, insurance issues, bookkeeping and financial administration of your business (suomi.fi).
Pension insurance affects social security and pension
As a self-employed person you have to arrange pension insurance for yourself. Pension insurance affects the amount of most benefits paid by Kela. Therefore, get YEL (Self-Employed Persons’ Pensions Act) or MYEL (Farmer’s Pensions Act) insurance coverage (työeläke.fi).
Unemployment benefits can be an option
Kela pays unemployment benefits to self-employed persons who are not members of an unemployment fund. You can prepare for possible unemployment by becoming a member of an unemployment fund (tyj.fi).
Has your income decreased or increased?
Changes in your income may affect Kela benefits.