Kela advances due date to request December unemployment payment

Due to the Christmas holidays, the Finnish social security institution (Kela) has advanced the due dates to fill the unemployment situation reports on its website, as well as the dates of payment of benefits.

Customers applying for other kind of social assistance whose applications and other required documents arrive at Kela by 10 December will have their social assistance payment deposited into their account before Christmas, the social security agency said in a press release.

Unemployment days report

Due to the Christmas holidays, the due dates for filing unemployment status reports and the benefit payment dates have been brought forward to an earlier date. Information about the exceptions is also available in the e-service and on the form for the unemployment status report.

Kela has issued a calendar for the days leading up to Christmas, in which as a rule of thumb it will be allowed submitting the report one day before the unemployment status reporting period expires. 

• When the reporting period for the unemployment status report ends on 21 or 22 December, the report can be submitted on 21 December 2020. The payments are deposited into the customer's account on 23 December at the earliest.
• If the reporting period ends on 23 December, the report can be submitted on 22 December 2020. The payments will be done on 28 December at the earliest.
• In the event that the reporting period ends on 24 December, the report can be submitted on 23 December 2020 and the payments will arrive into the account on 29 December at the earliest.

The social security institution recommends submitting the unemployment situation report to the electronic service as early as the morning of the report submission date, so that it can be processed as soon as possible.

Urgent social assistance

The last payment date for social assistance before Christmas is 23 December. Customers whose application and other required documents arrive at Kela by 10 December will have their social assistance payment deposited into their account by 23 December.

If a customer is in urgent need of social assistance (for example to buy food or medicines), they should call the customer service number 020 634 2550 or contact a Kela customer service point. Those whose situation becomes critical during the Christmas holiday may also contact the emergency social services helpline of their local municipal authority.