General housing allowance and income that varies over time
The housing allowance is calculated on the basis of the recipient’s monthly income. If your income varies over time, Kela will calculate an average income for you, which will be used as the basis for calculating your housing allowance.
Income is considered to vary over time if the amount of income changes within a period of three months starting from when the allowance was granted or reviewed.
The average income is a hypothetical monthly amount of income based on the assumption that income will vary over time for example because of temp work, education or periods of unemployment. Kela estimates the income for one year into the future, because the housing allowance is usually granted for the time being and reviewed yearly.
Do as follows
- In your application, state the income of all members of your household. Based on the information you provide, Kela will estimate an average income. State the amount of income before deduction for taxes.
- If your income will change over the following three months, provide more detail about the change in the application. For example, if you will start a new job, state exactly the start date and the salary you will be paid.
You can also use an online calculator (in Finnish) to estimate how your income will affect the housing allowance paid to you. Please note that the calculator can only provide an estimate.
Learn more about how the housing allowance is calculated.
How Kela calculates your average income
When calculating your average income, the first step is to add up all of the income you are estimated to receive over the next 12 months. This sum is then divided by 12. The result is a monthly income used as the basis for calculating your housing allowance.
Learn more about the calculation of income either as continuous income or an average income.