Individuals' and families' financial benefits and allowances during the coronavirus situation
This website will comprise all press releases, news, decisions, official instructions and recommendations issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health relating to income during the emergency conditions. The website will be updated as new information is published.
Most Recent Press Releases
Decisions of the government budget session support the prevention and management of COVID-19, safeguard the resources of organisations and strengthen the finances of municipalities and hospital districts
Legislative amendments strengthening livelihoods of employees to remain in force until end of year — central government to contribute to financing of earnings-related allowances paid during layoff
Government proposes temporary compensation to basic social assistance clients due to epidemic
Exempt amount of unemployment benefit to be raised and conditions for commuting and relocation allowance to be amended temporarily
Government proposes central government contributions to financing of earnings-related allowances paid during layoff
Government proposes to extend temporary amendments to Unemployment Security Act to strengthen livelihoods of employees
Government proposes to raise exempt amount of unemployment benefit and amend temporarily the conditions for relocation allowance
Processing of unemployment benefit applications to be accelerated
Government wants to speed up processing of unemployment benefit applications
Government proposes temporary support for those absent from work with no pay due to the coronavirus epidemic
Frequently Asked Questions on the Corona Virus Situation, Unemployment and Benefits
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Sickness allowance based on an infectious disease is intended to compensate for loss of income if the physician responsible for infectious disease control in the municipality or hospital district has ordered the person to stay away from work or placed the person in quarantine or isolation in order to prevent the spread of an infectious disease. Parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age are entitled to communicable disease allowance if they are absent from work because their child is quarantined.
The amount of the allowance is equal to the amount of lost income.
Foreign workers employed in Finland can be entitled to communicable disease allowance. For example, foreigners who are temporarily working (shipyards, construction sites etc.) in the country and who have not moved here permanently are entitled to sickness allowance.
For more information, please see the website of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela):- Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease
- Kela’s press release on the right of foreign workers employed in Finland to receive communicable disease allowance
Updated 27.8.2021 at 14.10Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
- Sickness allowance on account of an infectious disease
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You can apply for support at your own unemployment fund or Kela. Unemployment funds and Kela are responsible for all matters relating to the applications and their processing.
Follow Kela's website about unemployment benefits in the coronavirus situation.
Updated 25.11.2020 at 16.50Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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You are not entitled to compensation if you are absent from work because you are avoiding close contacts in accordance with the recommendations of the authorities. As a rule, you should agree with your employer on work arrangements or ask, for example, if you could take some of your annual leave days.
Updated 27.8.2021 at 14.14Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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Belonging to a risk group does not automatically entitle anyone to compensation. Persons who choose to stay in quarantine-like conditions are not, as a rule, entitled to compensation.
In cases where employees belonging to risk groups are working in positions in which remote work is not possible and where the risk of being exposed to infection is high, the employer must try to make arrangements so that these persons can transfer to positions where the risk of being exposed to infection is lower. Remote work is advised for all employees whose tasks can be carried out from home.
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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As a rule, all available income and assets are taken into account when granting social assistance. You are not required to sell off your home or any tools you need. You can get social assistance on a short-term basis without having to realise your immovable property. However, if you have any assets that are easy to realise, such as shares or fund units, you must use them to secure your subsistence before you can become eligible for social assistance.
Updated 12.10.2020 at 16.17Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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The Social Insurance Institution (Kela) can grant you a financial commitment for necessary medical expenses as part of basic social assistance. As a rule, any additional costs for home delivery of medicines are not covered by the financial commitment. In some special situations, you might get a financial commitment that covers home delivery costs if a healthcare professional deems home delivery necessary.
Food is covered by basic social assistance, and any additional costs associated with buying food can be covered by supplementary social assistance. If Kela has made a decision on granting basic social assistance, supplementary social assistance can be applied for at the municipal social administration. Municipalities have introduced even other local arrangements for grocery purchasing. You can ask about the arrangements directly from your municipality of residence.
Updated 12.10.2020 at 15.50Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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Basic social assistance takes into account the actual amount of housing costs, unless they can be considered to be excessive. If your housing costs exceed the amount considered reasonable by your municipality, the Social Insurance Institution (Kela) will advise you to apply for a cheaper flat. While Kela cannot force you to move, in some cases it may take into account your housing costs only to the amount considered reasonable.
Updated 12.10.2020 at 15.58Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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Decisions on basic social assistance must be made within 7 working days by law. The Social Insurance Institution has been able to process the applications for basic social assistance quickly, and there are no exceptional backlogs in sight.
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Updated 12.10.2020 at 15.55Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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The responsibility for arranging temporary accommodation rests with the social services of your municipality. The authorities placing a person under quarantine must contact the municipal social services if it becomes clear that the person does not have a residence.