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Unemployment | Our Services | KelaSkip to content

A technical problem has been discovered with the OmaKela e-service. Applications for general social security benefit and general housing allowance cannot be submitted Read more

Unemployment

Two people in the kitchen. One of them is drying a dish with a towel.
General social security benefit
If you are laid off temporarily
Unemployment in different life situations
Did you find a job?

Lost your job?

  1. Register as a jobseeker with the employment services
    If you become unemployed or you are temporarily laid off, register immediately as an unemployed jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence (kotikunta) at Job Market Finland (tyomarkkinatori.fi/en).
    Do as follows if you become unemployed.
  2. Unemployment benefit from an unemployment fund or Kela?

    If you are a member of an unemployment fund (työttömyyskassa) through a labour union or otherwise, apply for earnings-related unemployment allowance (ansiopäiväraha) from the fund. If you do not belong to an unemployment fund, apply for the general social security benefit (yleistuki) from Kela.
    More information about the general social security benefit.

  3. Do you meet the work requirement?
    Kela or the unemployment fund will check if your work history meets the work requirement (työssäoloehto) for employees. If you are a member of an unemployment fund and you meet the work requirement, you can get earnings-related unemployment allowance from the fund. In other cases, you may get general social security benefit from Kela.
    What is the work requirement?
  4. Stay registered as a jobseeker
    Make sure that you do what the employment services ask you to do before the deadline.
    Fill in an unemployment status report (työttömyysajan ilmoitus) in the OmaKela e-service every 4 weeks. Your general social security benefit will be paid on the basis of your report.
    Read the instructions and report the days you have been unemployed.
  5. Keep looking for work
    Use the tyomarkkinatori.fi e-service to look for suitable job opportunities.
    Look up vacancies (tyomarkkinatori.fi).

Is the payment of your earnings-related unemployment allowance about to end?

What else is going on in your life?

Do you need help with housing costs?

Housing allowance can compensate for reduced incomes and help with the housing costs.

Are you short of money?

If you are unemployed, you may be really short of money. In that case, social assistance can help you get through the worst.

Did you fall ill?

If you are ill, you should apply for sick leave and sickness allowance instead of unemployment benefit.

Has your income decreased?

Changes in your income may affect Kela benefits.

Current topics 

Reminder from Kela that unemployment benefits are paid in two instalments in May  

Kela pays unemployment benefits in two instalments in May. The first instalment consists of labour market subsidy or basic unemployment allowance granted until the end of April.  The second instalment consists of general social security benefit granted as of the beginning of May. There is no need for customers to worry even if there is a delay of a few days before their general social security benefit payments show up in OmaKela.  

Read more

 

Draft government proposal: general social security benefit to no longer be impacted by a partial early old-age pension granted before 16 January 2026

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is currently requesting comments on a draft government proposal for new legislation. If the proposal passes into law, a partial early old-age pension granted before 16 January 2026 will no longer have an effect on general social security benefit. The government proposal is slated to be submitted to Parliament in spring 2026. If approved by Parliament, the new legislation can be applied retroactively as from 1 May 2026.

Learn more

 

On the Unemployment pages

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