Launching at the beginning of May, the general social security benefit is intended for jobseekers who are not entitled to earnings-related unemployment allowance or whose maximum period of earnings-related unemployment allowance has expired.
If you are currently receiving a labour market subsidy or basic unemployment allowance, Kela will convert your benefit into the general social security benefit without you having to do anything.
If you register as a jobseeker from 1 May onwards, apply for the benefit from your unemployment fund if you are a member of one. If you are not a member of a fund or your entitlement to an earnings-related unemployment allowance has expired, you can apply for the general social security benefit from Kela.
You must keep your jobseeker status valid
The amount of the general social security benefit will be equivalent to the level of the current basic benefits, i.e. the labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance.
The general social security benefit includes a means test. This means that any income sources, such as investment income, may affect the amount of the benefit. The benefit is adjusted to any salary income in the same way as the current unemployment benefit.
Kela will check the income of current beneficiaries automatically, so no additional documentary evidence will be required.
Your role as a jobseeker will continue unchanged. You must keep your jobseeker status valid and submit an unemployment status report via OmaKela every four weeks.
Prolonged unemployment to result in an activation period
With the introduction of the new general social security benefit, Employment Services is introducing an activation period for the long-term unemployed. We will contact you if your unemployment is prolonged and it becomes necessary to organise an activation period for you.
The meetings involved in the activation period are usually held face-to-face, so that your situation can be assessed as fully as possible and the support and services that you receive can be tailored to your situation.
For clients under the age of 25, the activation period starts after nine months of receiving the general social security benefit.
For those over 25, the period starts after eighteen months of receiving the general social security benefit. You will not have to keep track of the time yourself; we will call a meeting with you when the time comes.
What does the activation period involve?
The aim of the activation period is to ensure that your job search is progressing and that the services provided to you are suitable for your situation.
During these meetings, we will discuss your skills, your potential education needs and other factors affecting your job search. If necessary, we will assess together whether additional services, such as social, health or rehabilitation services, could help you make progress.
At the end of the meetings, we will agree on clear steps forward so that you know what is happening and how we will proceed together. The aim of the activation period is to provide you with correctly timed help and put you on your own path towards work or education.
The general social security benefit from a jobseeker’s perspective
• The general social security benefit is a new basic benefit paid by Kela during unemployment, replacing the previous labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance.
• The general social security benefit provides income security during the client’s job search in situations where no earnings-related unemployment allowance is paid.
• Your obligations as a jobseeker will not change: you must continue to keep your jobseeker status valid and interact with Employment Services as before.
• If your unemployment is prolonged, you can receive more active support and guidance from Employment Services.
