How to apply for social assistance

Do as follows if you cannot use OmaKela:

1. Apply for social assistance on the form Application – Social assistance TO 1e (PDF)
2. Save the blank form to your device. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
3.  Fill in the form and print it out. Remember to sign the form.
4. Send the form together with any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA or hand them in at a Kela service point.

If you send supporting documents by post after you have submitted your application, enclose the form Accompanying form concerning expenses TO 3e (PDF). If you do not have the TO3e form, write your personal identity code on each document and make a note on it that it concerns social assistance.

If you cannot apply for social assistance in OmaKela or on a paper form, you can do so verbally. Call Kela’s customer service number 020 634 2550 or visit a Kela service point.

Do you or your family want to talk about your situation with someone from the social welfare services, for instance a social worker or counsellor? If you do, you can ask us to contact the social services of your wellbeing services county, or you can contact them yourself. You can also ask for a joint consultation with Kela and the wellbeing services county.

We may provide information about you to the social services of your wellbeing services county for the purpose of assessing your need for social welfare support or to investigate the need for child protection services or an elderly person’s need for support. We may also share certain information on a young person under the age of 29 with that person’s wellbeing services county for the purpose of outreach youth work and if we estimate that the person needs help to gain access to services or other support.

The social services of the wellbeing services counties also provide information to Kela when the information is needed to for the processing of social assistance applications.

Social assistance is a family-specific benefit. If you have a partner, either one of you can make an application for your family. Social assistance is granted to a family as a whole.

In the calculation of social assistance, adult children are not considered to be part of their parents' family even if they live in the same home. An adult living with their parents must apply for social assistance separately.

People who live in the same household but are not a family (for example roommates) must each file their own application.

If the person applying for social assistance has been declared legally incompetent due to reasons such as a medical condition or old age, they can either apply for social assistance themselves or an application can be submitted on their behalf by their legal guardian or representative or by someone who looks after the person.

We generally grant social assistance (toimeentulotuki) from the beginning of the month when we received the application or the next month. Social assistance is usually granted for 1–2 months at a time. However, if you have regular income, you can apply to be paid social assistance for a longer period, such as 2–4 months.

If Kela rejects your application, we can issue a decision to pay you social assistance for a period shorter or longer than one month if necessary. If you need a decision on social assistance from Kela only because you need one to apply for supplementary social assistance (täydentävä toimeentulotuki) from your wellbeing services county, we can issue you a decision for a period of one year if necessary.

In exceptional situations, we can grant social assistance retroactively. Examples of such situations include hospitalisation or a threat of eviction. You must explain and justify why you are applying for social assistance retroactively.

If you have expenses that you cannot get social assistance for from Kela, the social services of your wellbeing services county may grant you supplementary or preventive social assistance.

If you are in urgent need of social assistance due to your current situation, call Kela’s customer service number 020 634 2550 or visit a Kela service point.