The basic unemployment allowance is one of the two unemployment benefits provided by Kela. If you are a member of an unemployment fund, you can receive earnings-related unemployment allowance.

Can I get unemployment allowance?

If you become unemployed, you can get basic unemployment allowance if

• you are between 18 and 64 years of age
• you are living in Finland
• you have registered with the employment services of your municipality of residence as a jobseeker (tyomarkkinatori.fi)
• you can accept offers of full-time work
• you meet the work requirement for wage-earners or self-employed persons.

Read more about the entitlement criteria for basic unemployment allowance for persons aged under 25 years.

How much is the basic unemployment allowance?

• Basic unemployment allowance is paid to the amount of EUR 37.21 per day
• On average the basic unemployment allowance amounts to
  EUR 800.02 per month

You must pay tax on the basic unemployment allowance.

If you for instance receive a wage or salary from part-time work, the wage or salary reduces the amount of the basic unemployment allowance. In this case, you receive adjusted basic unemployment allowance.

The basic unemployment allowance is paid for 5 working days a week (including mid-week holidays).

Benefits that reduce the basic unemployment allowance

If you receive other benefits, their amounts are usually directly deducted from the basic unemployment allowance you receive. If you receive a benefit that is paid out monthly, the daily amount of the benefit is calculated by dividing the benefit amount for the whole month by 21.5.

Estimate the amount of the basic unemployment allowance using a calculator (FI & SWE): Peruspäivärahan laskuri

For how long can you receive basic unemployment allowance?

There is a waiting period of 7 working days for the basic unemployment allowance, and the waiting period starts from the day on which you register as unemployed. For this period, you will not receive the benefit. The basic unemployment allowance is payable for a maximum period of 400 working days. If you have an employment history of less than 3 years, the longest you can get unemployment allowance is 300 working days.

If you meet the work requirement after you have reached the age of 58, you can receive unemployment allowance for a maximum of 500 working days. Read more about the entitlement criteria for unemployment benefit for ageing unemployed.

You can track your progress towards the maximum payment period in the OmaKela e-service.

The 7-day waiting period for the basic unemployment allowance is applied at the beginning of each maximum payment period of 400 working days. The waiting period is only applied at the most once a year, however.

After the basic unemployment allowance you can receive labour market subsidy, if you meet the entitlement criteria. When the maximum payment period for the basic unemployment allowance is about to be completed, we will automatically request the information needed for the award of labour market subsidy from you.

How to apply for basic unemployment allowance

You can apply for basic unemployment allowance either on a form or in the OmaKela e-service. OmaKela is currently only available in Finnish and Swedish. Kela’s forms are also available in English.

Apply in OmaKela

1. Register with the employment services of your municipality of residence as a jobseeker (tyomarkkinatori.fi) Basic unemployment allowance cannot be paid out unless you are registered as an unemployed jobseeker.
2. Apply for basic unemployment allowance in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish).
3. Take photographs of the supporting documents and send them in OmaKela. From the application you can check which documents you should enclose with the application.
4. Visit the OmaKela e-service to see if your application has been decided, how much you will get and when your benefits will be paid. You can also see possible reminders concerning, for instance, any documents missing from your application. You will also get a decision by post if you have not given up paper mail.

Log in to the OmaKela e-service to apply for basic unemployment allowance (FI & SWE): Select identification method – Suomi.fi e-Identification

Apply on a form

1. Register with the employment services of your municipality of residence as a jobseeker (tyomarkkinatori.fi). Basic unemployment allowance cannot be paid out unless you are registered as an unemployed jobseeker.
2. Fill in and print out the form Application – Unemployment benefits TT1e (pdf).
3. Enclose additional documents in support of the application as necessary. The application form includes information on which supporting documents you need.
4. Send the application and any supporting documents by mail. The address is Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
5. Visit OmaKela to see if your application has been decided, how much you will get and when your benefit will be paid. You will also see reminders of, for instance, supporting documents missing from your application. The decision notice will also be sent to your home address unless you have opted out of paper mail.

The decision notice is only in Finnish or Swedish. If you need help with something, you can call one of our English language customer service numbers.

Report changes that affect the basic unemployment allowance

If you receive basic unemployment allowance, you have to inform Kela if

• you work during the period of unemployment
• a child is born to your family or there are other changes in your family circumstances

In this way, the benefit is paid to the correct amount and you also do not lose any benefit due to you.

If you do not report changes, you may be paid benefits you are not entitled to. In that case, the benefit will be recovered from you later. Read more about the recovery of overpaid benefits.

Do not forget to check how any changes in your circumstances will affect other benefits that you receive from Kela.