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How to apply for social assistance | Our Services | KelaSkip to content

How to apply for social assistance

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Apply for social assistance in OmaKela

  1. First, use our online calculator to estimate if you or your family may be entitled to social assistance. The calculator is available in Finnish and Swedish. Go to the calculator.
  2. Apply for social assistance in OmaKela. Please note that the e-service is available in Finnish and Swedish only.
  3. Save the supporting documents in pdf format to your computer or mobile device, or take photographs of the documents. Send them in OmaKela. We need
  4. We will review your social assistance application within seven working days (Monday to Friday) of receiving it and all the necessary supporting documents. Read more about application processing times.
  5. Visit OmaKela to see if your application has been decided, how much you will get and when your benefit will be paid. You will also see reminders of any supporting documents that are missing from your application.

Apply for social assistance

Submit your application and supporting documents online.

Log in to the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish)

You can also log in to OmaKela on the customer computers at our service points. Most of Kela’s service points have computers, scanners and printers for customer use, and we provide guidance on how to use them.

Decision notices and letters delivered primarily via OmaKela

If you use OmaKela and you have given us your email address or phone number, we will not send you paper copies of decisions or letters by post. You can only view them in OmaKela. You will get a notification when you have a new decision or letter available in OmaKela.

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If you cannot use OmaKela

If you cannot use OmaKela, send your application to Kela by post. Save the social assistance application form TO1e (pdf) to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA or hand them in at a Kela service point.

If you send supporting documents by post after you have submitted your application, enclose the form Accompanying form concerning expenses TO 3e (pdf). If you do not have the TO3e form, write your personal identity code on each document and make a note on it that it concerns social assistance.

If you cannot apply for social assistance in OmaKela or on a paper form, you can do so verbally. Call Kela’s customer service number 020 634 2550 or visit a Kela service point.

Visit Kela – offices and service points

Your right to a personal consultation with a Kela staff member

If you or your family would like to talk to a Kela staff member about social assistance, call Kela's customer service at 020 634 2550 or visit a Kela service point. If you wish, we can book a telephone appointment for you or an appointment at a service point. You can also book a telephone appointment yourself. We will arrange a time for a consultation within 7 working days.

Do you or your family want to talk about your situation with someone from the social welfare services, for instance a social worker or counsellor? If you do, you can ask us to contact the social services of your wellbeing services county, or you can contact them yourself. You can also ask for a joint consultation with Kela and the wellbeing services county.

We may provide information about you to the social services of your wellbeing services county for the purpose of assessing your need for social welfare support or to investigate the need for child protection services or an elderly person’s need for support. We may also share certain information on a young person under the age of 29 with that person’s wellbeing services county for the purpose of outreach youth work and if we estimate that the person needs help to gain access to services or other support.

The social services of the wellbeing services counties also provide information to Kela when the information is needed to for the processing of social assistance applications.

Things to remember when applying for social assistance

Social assistance is a family-specific benefit. If you have a partner, either one of you can make an application for your family. Social assistance is granted to a family as a whole.

In the calculation of social assistance, adult children are not considered to be part of their parents' family even if they live in the same home. An adult living with their parents must apply for social assistance separately.

People who live in the same household but are not a family (for example roommates) must each file their own application.

If the person applying for social assistance has been declared legally incompetent due to reasons such as a medical condition or old age, they can either apply for social assistance themselves or an application can be submitted on their behalf by their legal guardian or representative or by someone who looks after the person.

We generally grant social assistance (toimeentulotuki) from the beginning of the month when we received the application or the next month. Social assistance is usually granted for 1–2 months at a time. However, if you have regular income, you can apply to be paid social assistance for a longer period, such as 2–4 months.

If Kela rejects your application, we can issue a decision to pay you social assistance for a period shorter or longer than one month if necessary. If you need a decision on social assistance from Kela only because you need one to apply for supplementary social assistance (täydentävä toimeentulotuki) from your wellbeing services county, we can issue you a decision for a period of one year if necessary.

When you are applying for social assistance for one month

When you apply for social assistance for one month, enter the first day of the month as the starting date and the last day of the month as the end date, for example 1 December to 31 December (1.12.–31.12.).

In exceptional situations, we can grant social assistance retroactively. Examples of such situations include hospitalisation or a threat of eviction. You must explain and justify why you are applying for social assistance retroactively.

Kela can stop paying social assistance (toimeentulotuki) in the following situations:

  • the recipient asks Kela to stop paying it
  • the recipient moves to another country
  • the recipient has died
  • the recipient starts working and no longer qualifies for social assistance
  • other similar reasons if the recipient no longer qualifies for social assistance as a result.

Kela can stop paying social assistance only if the reason for discontinuing the assistance applies to all family members, not just one. In other cases, we will review the amount of social assistance we can pay.

If you have expenses that you cannot get social assistance for from Kela, the social services of your wellbeing services county may grant you supplementary or preventive social assistance.

If you are in urgent need of social assistance due to your current situation, call Kela’s customer service number 020 634 2550 or visit a Kela service point.

Do you still have questions? 

Call Kela’s customer service.

020 634 2550
020 634 2550

Current topics

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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.

Read more

On the Social assistance pages

Last modified 1/2/2026
Go to Social assistance