Housing allowance for pensioners reviewed every two years – file the application for review in time

There will be an exceptionally large number of periodic reviews of the housing allowance for pensioners at year-end. This will mean longer processing times and a higher volume of contacts to Kela’s customer service. The periodic review is done when two years have passed from the date on which the housing allowance was granted or it was last reviewed. Kela will send the customer a letter and instructions before the review is due. 

“This year the number of periodic reviews at year-end is exceptionally large, and this affects both the processing of applications and the volume of contacts to our customer service,” says Esa Rahja, Head of the Centre for Pensions at Kela. 

Payment of the allowance will continue when the application is filed in time 

Kela reviews the customer’s housing allowance in connection with the periodic review when Kela has received the application and the related documents. When the customer has filed the application for review within the time limit set, the housing allowance for pensioners will be paid according to the previous decision until Kela has issued a new decision. It may take longer than usual to get a decision, but when the application is filed in time the payment of the allowance can continue.  

Kela can process the application without delays when the application has been completed carefully and the necessary documents have been sent to Kela. You can follow the processing of the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish), for instance when the application was received, how the processing progresses and the next payment date for the benefit. You can easily complete and send the application in OmaKela. The e-service also includes information on the documents you must enclose with the application. 

You should also notify Kela of changes between the periodic reviews 

The housing allowance for pensioners is reviewed when two years have passed since the housing allowance was granted or last reviewed. It is important to notify Kela of all changes already before the periodic review, so that the benefit amount remains correct. 
 
The benefit amount is affected by for instance increases in income, changes in housing costs or family circumstances or increases in assets. Remember to notify Kela of such changes as soon as possible. There are instructions on Kela’s website on the type of changes that you should inform Kela about and how they may affect the housing allowance for pensioners.The decision notice on the housing allowance also includes information on the types of changes that you must inform Kela about. 

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Do you get housing allowance for pensioners? Notify Kela of changes in time