Will you enter military service in July? Apply for conscript's allowance now

If you will enter service in July, it is worthwhile to apply for conscript’s allowance now. Kela can pay conscript’s allowance for the period of service to conscripts, that is, persons performing military or alternative non-military service. Conscript's allowance can also be granted to the conscript’s spouse or partner. A cohabiting partner can only get conscript’s allowance if they have a child with the person performing their service.

You can apply for conscript’s allowance in the form of housing assistance and assistance with interest payments on student loans. Housing assistance can usually only be paid if you have been living independently in your home, i.e. you have rented your home at least 3 months before entering service. The conscript’s spouse or partner can apply for conscript’s allowance in the form of basic assistance, housing assistance and special assistance.

If you before entering service receive general housing allowance alone or for instance together with your spouse or partner, the housing allowance will continue during the period of service. In addition to general housing allowance, Kela can pay conscript’s allowance in the form of housing assistance. When necessary, the amount of general housing allowance is reviewed.

In addition, the Defence Forces and the places of service of persons performing alternative non-military service pay a daily allowance for the period of service.

Conscript’s allowance cannot be applied for afterwards

If you will enter service on 8 July 2024, it is worthwhile to apply for conscript’s allowance now. Conscript’s allowance is granted at the earliest starting from the date of entering service. Conscript’s allowance cannot be applied for retrospectively, which means that you can get conscript’s allowance at the earliest from the start of the month when your application arrives at Kela.

If you are applying for assistance towards interest payments on student loans, you should apply for it no later than the month that the interest is due. File a separate application for each interest payment that falls due.

You can apply for conscript’s allowance easily in OmaKela (available in Finnish and Swedish). You will get an e-mail or a text message when the decision can be accessed in OmaKela under Oma asiointi on the front page. You will also receive the decision by mail, unless you have informed Kela that you wish to give up paper mail.

Additional information for customers:

• Conscripts
• How to claim conscript's allowance.
• Joona, who receives conscript’s allowance: ”Avustus on kattanut menoni hyvin” (The conscript’s allowance covers my costs quite well) (elamassa.fi, in Finnish)
• Customer service number: 020 634 2550, (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm)
• Learn more about letting Kela know that you want to receive information in OmaKela only.