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How is social assistance calculated?

We calculate all the income and assets available to you and your family and all your expenses. The income in the calculation consists of all the income and assets available to you and your family. The expenses consist of the basic amount and other acceptable expenses.

You cannot get social assistance if your income and assets exceed your acceptable expenses.

If your acceptable expenses are higher than your income and assets, you can receive social assistance. The amount of social assistance you can receive is the equivalent of the amount of expenses that remain after your acceptable expenses have been subtracted from your income.

Sanna is unemployed and the single parent of two children under 10 years of age. She lives in Sipoo with her children. Because of her difficult financial situation, she applies for social assistance from Kela.

The family’s income and assets

  • The family’s income and assets are the following:
  • labour market subsidy EUR 595.36 per month
  • child benefit with single-parent supplement EUR 346.32 per month
  • housing allowance EUR 579.60 per month
  • child maintenance allowance EUR 396.26 per month
  • money in Sanna’s savings account EUR 250.

Total income: EUR 2,167.54 per month

The family's expenses

The following are counted as the family's expenses:

  • rent EUR 810 per month
  • water charge EUR 45 per month
  • electricity bill EUR 52
  • health centre fee EUR 26
  • basic amount according to family size, a total of EUR 1,477.95 per month, consisting of
    • Sanna’s basic amount EUR 676.65 per month
    • Oona’s basic amount EUR 415.49 per month
    • Jesse’s basic amount EUR 385.81 per month

Total expenses: EUR 2,410.95 per month

The amount of social assistance

The expenses are subtracted from the income: EUR 2,167.54 – EUR 2,410.95 = EUR -243.41.

Kela will pay Sanna and her family EUR 243.41 per month in social assistance.

Use an online calculator to estimate the amount of social assistance available to you

Before applying for social assistance, use our online calculator to see if you or your family could be eligible for social assistance and how much you could get. The calculator is available in Finnish and Swedish.

Use our online calculator to see if you can get social assistance

Go to calculator

Do you still have questions?

Call Kela’s customer service.

020 634 2550
020 634 2550

Current topics

Henkilö katsoo puhelinta kirjastossa.

Thinking of applying for social assistance? Check these things first

Before applying for social assistance, you should check on the things that may stop you from getting it. These tips will help you make sure that your application can be processed without delay. Checking these things in advance will also help you avoid disappointment over a refused application.

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Last modified 1/1/2025
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