Are you under 25? – Your unemployment benefits may be affected if you do not apply for further or higher education

If you are under 25 and you have not completed any education that gives you vocational qualifications or a degree after graduating from comprehensive school or upper secondary school, it is especially important for you to now apply to at least two of these kinds of study programmes. Other types of education or training you can apply for include certain programmes offered by folk high schools and sports institutes.

If you are not admitted to any study programmes and you apply for unemployment benefits, employment services will check which study programmes you have applied to. If you have not applied to at least two study programmes of the required type and you do not have a valid reason for not applying, you will lose your right to unemployment benefits for the time being (no time limit).

You can apply to different study programmes for example during the joint application periods organised this spring. The spring joint application period for upper secondary schools and vocational education runs from 17 February to 17 March 2026. The second joint application period for institutions of higher education this spring is 10–24 March 2026. There are also other ways to apply to study programmes. For example, vocational schools will often accept applications all year round.

Kela may cut the basic amount of your social assistance

If you do not apply for further or higher education and lose your right to unemployment benefits as a result, it will also affect your social assistance. Kela may reduce (cut) the basic amount of your social assistance by 20% in the first month and by 40% after that. The reduction will continue to apply to your basic amount until you get back your right to unemployment benefits or you find a job, but no longer than for 6 months in total.

What you should do

• Apply to at least two study programmes of the required type. Take the entrance examinations and attend any interviews or other meetings required by the application process.
• If you are offered admission, accept it and start your studies. Do not stop your studies without a valid reason.
• Register as an unemployed jobseeker with the employment services immediately at the end of the spring term. This way any waiting period that may apply to your unemployment benefits can start running right away and you can have an employment and study plan drawn up for you if you are not admitted to any study programmes or you cannot find a job.
• If you are not sure what you should do, please contact the employment services (Job Market Finland). You can also contact Kela.

More information for customers

• After you are admitted to a study programme (kela.fi)
• If you become unemployed (kela.fi)
• Unemployment security advice (Job Market Finland)
• When can Kela reduce the basic amount of social assistance? (kela.fi)