With backlog cleared, Kela can issue decisions on student financial aid applications within the usual target time

The processing times of applications for student financial aid and the housing supplement for students were longer than usual this summer. Due to the delays in processing, financial aid or housing supplement payments to some students were delayed for August and September.

The backlog has now been cleared, and all students will get decisions on their applications within the usual target time.

Kela apologises for the delay. Marianne Schauman-Lindberg, head of Kela’s Centre for Student Benefits, commends students for having dealt well with the changes in housing assistance and for doing all the right things when applying for benefits.

“We want to thank students for their patience under these exceptional circumstances”, she says

Kela has set itself a target time of 14 days for processing applications for financial aid. Applications from higher education students will now be processed within this target time. Applications filed by upper secondary level students have been processed within the target time since August.

Students can keep track of the progress of their application in the OmaKela e-service. Decisions issued on applications for financial aid or housing supplement can also be viewed in OmaKela.

Additional information for customers

Housing supplement for students

Press release 28 August 2025: Delays in the processing of student financial aid applications – most higher education students will get their benefits on time in September

Press release 8 August 2025: (in Finnish) Kela purkaa opintotukihakemusten ruuhkaa

Press release 30 July 2025:Delays in the processing of financial aid applications – students may have to wait for decisions and benefits