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Old-age pension for long-term unemployed

If you have been unemployed for a long time and received basic unemployment allowance from Kela or earnings-related unemployment allowance from the unemployment fund, you can be granted the old-age pension from Kela slightly earlier on the basis of additional days of unemployment allowance. Old-age pensions awarded on the basis of additional days of unemployment allowance are not reduced by an early retirement reduction. Read more about additional days of unemployment allowance.

You can receive an old-age pension on the basis of additional days of unemployment allowance at age 64 if you were born before 1962.

As a long-term unemployed person you can choose whether to apply for an old-age pension at age 64, or later. If you choose not to apply at age 62, you can be paid unemployment allowance until the end of the calendar month in which you reach the age of 65 years.

Payment of the pension can begin at the beginning of the calendar month following your application. The pension is not awarded retrospectively.

Persons who receive labour market subsidy are not entitled to additional days of unemployment allowance, and thus cannot be granted an old-age pension on this ground. Self-employed persons can also not be granted old-age pensions on this ground, since self-employed persons are not entitled to unemployment allowance for additional days.

As an earnings-related pension, you can receive an old-age pension at the lowest retirement age in your own age group.

How to apply for an old-age pension on the basis of additional days of unemployment allowance

  • Apply for an old-age pension on the basis of additional days of unemployment allowance online. Log in to Kela's e-service (in Finnish and Swedish) using your online banking codes or a mobile ID.
  • Enclose a certificate from the payer of the unemployment allowance for additional days on the additional days of unemployment allowance and send it to the pension provider that handles your application or to Kela. Documents photographed with a mobile phone are accepted if the pictures are clear and legible.

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Last modified 7/2/2024