How does studying affect Kela benefits? | Our Services | KelaSkip to content

How does studying affect Kela benefits?

As a student, you are eligible for various Kela benefits for students. Student status can affect any other Kela benefits you may receive.

You should therefore notify Kela if you begin your studies. You can do so in the OmaKela e-service, in a letter, or by calling Kela’s customer service. Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.

Please note that you also cannot get student financial aid while performing conscript service. Persons receiving a pension are also not eligible for student financial aid. However, a survivors’ pension or partial old-age pension does not prevent you from getting financial aid.

You can get parental allowance even though you are studying while being on parental leave, as long as you are able to take care of your child while studying. Receiving study grant payments does not prevent you from getting parental allowance.

If you study full-time, i.e. you do not care for your child at the same time as you are studying, you should report your active days of study in the OmaKela e-service. This will ensure that you are paid the correct amount of parental allowance, and that you will not need to pay any of it back.

If, despite studying, you are able to take care of your child, you do not have to notify Kela of your studies.

You can receive pregnancy allowance and student financial aid at the same time if you are a full-time student, as long as you are able to take care of your child while studying. Receiving study grant payments does not prevent you from getting pregnancy allowance.

You can receive paternity allowance and student financial aid at the same time. In that case, the paternity allowance will be paid to you at the minimum rate. Paternity allowance counts as income for purposes of the financial aid income check.

Financial aid for students does not affect the child home care allowance, but the child home care allowance is considered as income for purposes of the financial aid income check.

If you receive rehabilitation allowance for young persons, tell Kela about it in your own words by sending a written message or letter, or call the rehabilitation customer service number at 020 634 2650. Rehabilitation allowance for young persons allowance and student financial aid cannot be paid for the same period of time.

Sickness allowance and financial aid for students cannot be paid for the same period of time.

Notify Kela if you have completed training for a new occupation. Do so in the OmaKela e-service or use the EV267 form.

While unemployed, you can engage in self-motivated study, for example to complete an unfinished degree. If you are registered as an unemployed jobseeker with the TE Services and are at least 25 years old when you begin your studies, you could get unemployment benefits for your period of study. TE Services will determine whether your studies can be considered self-motivated, which is a requirement for unemployment benefits. For more information, see Employment promoting services.

Alternatively, you could be entitled to student financial aid. Unemployment benefits and student financial aid are not available for the same period of time.

If you become a student, notify Kela either in your new unemployment status report in OmaKela or on the TT2e form.

Students who live in rental housing located in Finland can get general housing allowance for their housing costs. Apply for general housing allowance in the OmaKela e-service or use the AT1e form. Persons sharing a household must claim general housing allowance jointly.

Basic social assistance is a last-resort form of financial assistance. Before applying for basic social assistance, find out if you have the right to other benefits. For students, benefits that take precedence over social assistance include financial aid (study grant and student loan) and general housing allowance.

Last modified 22/2/2024