Amendment of Kela’s governing law: the names of claims determination specialists to be removed from decisions, increase in online contacts and more extensive access to information for Kela

Kela’s governing law defines Kela’s responsibilities. Parliament approved the amendments to Kela’s governing law on 18 November 2025.  

The Government proposal to amend the law was submitted to Parliament in September 2025. The proposal is based on the suggestions of the parliamentary committee and the needs for changes specified by Kela. The approved amendments of the law will take effect in stages as from 1 January 2026, and they will show in Kela’s operations early in 2026.  

The amendments concern for instance an extension of Kela’s rights of access to information, the removal of the names of claims determination specialists from Kela’s benefit decisions and the primary nature of electronic notifications, i.e decision notices and letters from Kela are primarily sent in electronic form.  

– Following the amendments, the extended rights of access to information enable faster data production and development of the social security system, and the electronic notifications make our operations more efficient. In my opinion, an especially significant change would be the removal of the names of claims determination specialists from decisions. This would be a concrete measure to tackle threats and harassment directed at the personnel, says Auli Valli-Lintu, Director of Legislative Development at Kela.    

Kela’s decision notices will henceforth show contact details for the customer service  

The names of claims determination specialists in Kela’s benefit decisions would henceforth be replaced by the contact details for the customer service. The intention is to tackle threats and harassment directed at Kela’s personnel. The removal of the signatures still requires an amendment of the decree. This amendment is being prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health until 28 February 2026.   

– This would be an important step towards a safer work environment and a change that Kela’s personnel has eagerly been waiting for. Also after the change, it would still be possible to find out who has made the decision, so the customer’s due process rights are not at risk, says Auli Valli-Lintu.  

More extensive right of access for Kela to information from other authorities for research and statistical purposes  

The amendment gives Kela more extensive right to use data that Kela already has and also data from other authorities. The new rights of access concern the use of data for research and statistical purposes. The extended rights of access to information enable a more high-quality knowledge base when developing and evaluating the effects of the social security system and the legislation. However, the change does not apply to the benefit processing.  

Customers will receive letters from Kela primarily in electronic form  

As a consequence of the amendment of the law, decision notices and letters from Kela will be sent to customers primarily in electronic form. This means that customers will receive letters and decision notices quicker and the costs for postage will decrease. This will save an estimated EUR 6 million per year in operating costs for Kela. The intention is that this change will take effect at the same time as the legislation on the primary nature of electronic contacts on 12 January 2026.   

For Kela’s customers the change means that when the customer logs in to OmaKela and has earlier informed Kela about their e-mail address or phone number, they henceforth get decision notices and letters from Kela only in electronic form in OmaKela. Kela will inform customers about the change extensively in many different channels. The customer has the option of returning to paper mail by separately informing Kela about it.   

In the amendments to Kela’s governing law, the composition of Kela’s Board and the qualifications of the management were specified. Henceforth, Kela can, when needed, also procure for instance routine assisting tasks related to receipt and printing of documents, or management of consent from private organisations. The National Audit Office of Finland will have the right to audit Kela’s operations to ensure that they are in compliance with the law and that they function appropriately and efficiently.