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Conditions for a successful social security reform | About Kela | KelaSkip to content

Kela is helping to make the social security reform a success

Kela is helping to build the social security of tomorrow. We are active participants in the social security reform and produce statistics and research to help build a better social security system.

The social security system is being reformed in the 2023–2027 electoral period. The reform process is based on a number of projects launched by the Government and the work of a dedicated committee on social security. Read more of the social security reform (stm.fi).

Among the projects that Petteri Orpo’s Government has launched to overhaul the social security system are

The Government’s programme also aims to create a single benefit application model, which would streamline and simplify the claiming of social benefits. Kela is developing this model as part of the Eepos strategic development programme.

The general social security benefit is a new form of financial assistance that will be introduced to the Finnish social security system. The new benefit will merge several existing benefits into one single benefit and simplify the application process.

In its Government Programme, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government lists the introduction of a general social security benefit as part of its planned reform of the Finnish social security system. The reform aims to create a benefit that will include a basic amount for living costs, an amount intended for housing costs and a discretionary amount intended for last-resort social security.

In the first stage of the implementation of the general social security benefit, it will simplify the social security coverage of unemployed persons. In December 2025, Parliament approved the Government’s proposal on the general social security benefit. The corresponding Act was adopted on 16 January 2026.

The general social security benefit will be introduced on 1 May 2026. From that date forward, it will replace the existing unemployment benefits paid by Kela, which are labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance. The new benefit is intended for unemployed persons who do not qualify for earnings-related unemployment allowance or who have used up the full amount of their earnings-related unemployment allowance. You can apply for the general social security benefit from Kela.

The intention is for the scope of the general social security benefit to be expanded to cover other benefits as well. The next stages of the implementation of the general social security benefit are currently being prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

More information

Social Security Committee

In the spring of 2020, the Government set up a committee to draw up plans for a reform of the social security system. The current term of the Social Security Committee runs from 23 March 2020 to 31 March 2027. In a 19 October 2023 decision, the Government made changes to the composition and tasks of the Committee for the remainder of its term.

The Committee is made up of Members of Parliament representing all parliamentary groups. It also has within its ranks some permanent expert members, including Lasse Lehtonen, Kela’s Director General (with Director Kari-Pekka Mäki-Lohiluoma as the alternate).

The Social Security Committee is supported in its work by an assessment and study group, which produces qualitative and quantitative reports and assessments as well as performs constitutional review as tasked by the Committee. Kela is also represented in this group.

Our experts involved in the reform have extensive experience with implementing benefit schemes, drafting legislation on social security and developing the services offered to clients.

Read more: Social Security Committee (stm.fi, in Finnish)

Research and statistics on social security

Kela conducts a wide range of research aimed at making the social security system clearer and more accessible and at gaining insight into the effects of changes made in social security law.

Kela’s Info Tray data portal brings together the research and statistics produced by Kela. The research and statistical content in Info Tray is for everyone with a personal or professional interest in Kela data, including decision makers, researchers and the media.

Visit the Info Tray (tietotarjotin.fi)

Last modified 18/2/2026
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