Transition security allowance
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Transition security measures are intended to support the employment prospects of people who are laid off after they have turned 55.
Transition security measures include transition security allowance (muutosturvaraha), the right to seek transition security training arranged by the employment services and paid leave to find employment that is longer than usual and that you have agreed on with your employer.
Can you get transition security allowance?
You can get transition security allowance if
- you were dismissed on financial and production-related grounds on or after 1 January 2023
- you had turned 55 before you were dismissed
- you had worked for at least 5 years for the employer that dismissed you
- you have registered as a jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence (kotikunta) within 60 days of the date of dismissal. The date of dismissal means the day when you got notice of your dismissal.
After you have registered as a jobseeker, the employment services will check if you meet the criteria for transition security allowance. Employment services will tell Kela or your unemployment fund (työttömyyskassa) whether you meet the criteria.
How much is the transition security allowance?
The transition security allowance is a one-off payment. The allowance is equal to approximately one month’s pay. The amount of the allowance is calculated based on wages or salary subject to unemployment insurance contributions that the terminating employer has paid in the past 12 calendar months before the date of dismissal.
You must pay taxes on the transition security allowance.
You can get transition security allowance already during your notice period even though your unemployment has not yet started.
The transition security allowance does not affect your right to unemployment benefits or other benefits, with the exception of social assistance (perustoimeentulotuki).
How to apply for transition security allowance
Apply for transition security allowance with the joint application form for transition security allowance (tyj.fi, PDF in Finnish) used by both Kela and the unemployment funds.
To make sure that the form functions properly, you need to use the latest version of Adobe Reader. It is available as a free download on the Adobe website (get.adobe.com).
If you are a member of an unemployment fund, apply to the fund for transition security allowance. You can get transition security allowance from your unemployment fund even if you have not been a member long enough to qualify for earnings-related unemployment allowance. Look up your unemployment fund’s contact information (tyj.fi)
If you are not a member of an unemployment fund, apply for transition security allowance from Kela
- Register as a jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence (kotikunta) at Job Market Finland (tyomarkkinatori.fi) within 60 days of the date of dismissal. Transition security allowance can be paid out only if you are registered as a jobseeker.
- Start by saving the blank form the joint application form for transition security allowance (tyj.fi) on your own device. The form is used by both Kela and unemployment funds. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
- Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
- After you have filled in the form, save it in PDF format. You do not have to sign the form.
- Send the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) under Tee hakemus tai ilmoita muutoksista (Submit an application or report changes).
- Send supporting documents in OmaKela by selecting Lähetä liite (Send a supporting document). Take photographs of the documents you are sending if they are not in a digital format. The application form tells you what supporting documents you need to send.
Go to OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. You will also see how much you will get and when your benefit will be paid. If supporting documents are missing from your application, you will get a reminder about them in OmaKela.
In OmaKela, you can also consent to Kela sending you messages. This will help make your application process and other contacts with Kela quicker.
If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Fill in the form and print it out. Remember to sign the form. Send the form together with any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Apply for the transition security allowance within 3 months of the end of your employment.
The decision notice is only in Finnish or Swedish. If you need help with something, you can call one of our English language customer service numbers.
Transition security training and leave to find employment
If you meet the criteria for transition security allowance, you can also participate in transition security training arranged by the employment services.
Participation in transition security training is voluntary. The training is commissioned by employment services or an Economic Development Centre, and it can last up to six months.
If you have been dismissed on financial and production-related grounds, you can get paid leave to find employment during the notice period. You are meant to use this leave for example to search for jobs independently or to access employment services. You must agree on the leave to find employment with your employer.
The number of days of leave to find employment is determined on the basis of the length of the notice period. If you are covered by the transition security measures, the leave to find employment is 5 days longer than usual.