Social assistance can be granted for reasonable housing costs – Kela does not ask anyone to move

The legislative amendments on social security that entered into force at the beginning of April have raised a wide range of questions and also concern in Kela’s customers. One of the frequently asked questions concerns the housing costs of customers who receive social assistance.

A legislative amendment concerning the housing costs that Kela recognises for the purposes of social assistance entered into force on 1 April 2024. Maximum limits for housing costs in each municipality have been set, and the limits are now laid down by Government Decree. If a recipient of social assistance has housing costs that exceed the limit for their municipality, Kela will tell them that they need to look for more affordable housing within three months’ time, unless they have special grounds for staying in their current home. The three-month time limit can be extended if necessary.

The customer does not have to move out of their current apartment. If the customer does not move to more affordable housing within the time limit, Kela will only recognise housing costs up to the maximum limit going forward. After the end of the time limit, the customer themselves must thus pay for the part of the housing costs exceeding the municipal limit.

On special grounds, Kela can also accept housing costs that exceed the maximum limit

The amendment has not brought major changes to the established practice, but in some respects, it has tightened the criteria for recognising housing costs that exceed the maximum limits for each municipality.

Special grounds for living in housing where the housing costs exceed the municipality-specific limits still include

• the advanced age or poor health of the benefit recipient or a family member,
• a non-custodial parent’s need for additional space for parent-child visits,
• a child with special needs, where continued attendance at the same daycare centre, pre-school or school is in the child’s best interests.

However, if there is no more affordable housing that meets the criteria for maximum housing costs available in the area where the recipient lives, this no longer constitutes special grounds. The customer must be able to prove to Kela that they have looked for more affordable housing using all the means at their disposal. If the customer fails to find more affordable housing within 3 months despite actively looking for it, the time limit can be extended.

What to do if you have been asked to look for more affordable housing

We have put together some advice for a situation where you have been asked by Kela to look for more affordable housing, and you have no special grounds for housing costs that exceed the maximum limit for your municipality.

• Start looking for more affordable housing immediately and search actively for housing. Send Kela information on your search for housing. You will see what information you need to send in the decision notice you have received.
• Only apply for housing where the rent is below the limit for housing costs in the municipality. Do not limit your search according to, for example, the residential area or the size and characteristics of the apartment.
• Search for housing by looking at rental housing owned by your municipality, large rental agencies operating in the municipality, or by private owners. If you need help finding housing, you can contact the housing counselling services provided by the municipality where you live or by some other organization.
• Customers who receive social assistance can receive assistance with their moving costs and with a rental security deposit for a new home, on the condition that the rent for the new home does not exceed the limits set for the municipality.
• If you do not move to more affordable housing within the time limit, we will take your housing costs into account up to the municipality-specific limit going forward. This means that you do not have to move from your present home, but after the time limit ends, you will have to pay for the portion of the housing costs that exceeds the limit for your municipality.
• If you are having trouble coping with everyday expenses or if you are in a difficult situation, you should contact the social services office of your wellbeing services county. You can apply for supplementary or preventive social assistance from the social services office if you need it.
• You can always contact Kela if you have questions about Kela’s benefits or if you want to talk about your situation. We can also arrange talks with a social services expert from the wellbeing services county.

Additional information for customers:

• Housing costs and basic social assistance (kela.fi)
• Types of expenses for which you can get basic social assistance(kela.fi)
• Who can get basic social assistance (kela.fi)
• When applying for social assistance, do not forget the bank statements. (in Finnish or Swedish at kela.fi)