New Unemployment Money Question

[hychamaz]

Hello everyone, I hope that you all are well. I just read in the "living in Finland" section Vincebels question about receiving unemployment money. Wow was he put through the ringer on that one. I am facing a similiar situation and wanted to see what you all thought. I started the integration program courses in January and they were wonderful. Just to give a little background info, my wife was working as a nurse at the time and has since left her job since we are expecting our first baby boy on March 7th and is on maternity leave. About three weeks into the class my wife had some medical conditions that required me to be home with her. I really don't feel the need to go in to detail about them. I had no choice and left the integration program to stay at home with her now and probably for some time after the baby is born. It was unfortunate as I met alot of great students from 11 different countries (out of the 14 of us in there) and had a great Finnnish teacher. But my wife comes first over everything.
I have already collected the $24.51 + the $8.00 from Jan 7th- Jan 20th and will collect until the end of this week. I have my University degree from the States on file with the Employment agency since I started this process months ago. My question basically is, what will happen to me in about a month when Kela and the Employment agency will learn from myself and the teacher that I am no longer in the integration program. I WANT to be but can't b/c of my situation, I obviously cannont.
Does anyone know what they will do to me until I am able to enroll in another class, find a job, or have them place me in an internship program down the road. This will be definately many months away, which I will let them know. Would letters from my doctors or her doctors help to still receive the 24.51 unemployment + the 4.75 when the baby is born. Obviously I will not be receiving the $8 for the integration program anymore. Or is there a definate quarantine time...
Please none of the wiseass comments or remarks often given. This is a real life situation and I am not here to freeload. This is a real delicate situation and I just want to know what other people think will happen that have knowledge/experience in these matters. Thanks in adavance.

[Hank W.]

Would letters from my doctors or her doctors help to still receive the 24.51 unemployment + the 4.75 when the baby is born. Obviously I will not be receiving the $8 for the integration program anymore. Or is there a definate quarantine time...

They will by all probability try and slam you on the quarantine for "refusing", now of course any and all relevant explanations according to the situation (wife needs care at home etc.) are relevant; but with KELA you really need to watch how you present the situation as its always a double take, as they will try and find some paragraph that says that you haven't been "at the disposal" and cut the allowance on that pretense. (And as you've not been employed in Finland the technical term is "labor market subsidy" and not "unemployment" which you get after one has worked for 10 months. There is a difference in the small print, as the subsidy, the "base" unemployment without union contributions and the "immigration allowance" are basically the same amount that smells the same looks the same and so forth, but as they come off different budgets they are different, and differently allocated.) You shouldn't be able to be dropped off the labor market subsidy really, but again today I heard of a very nice story regarding KELA and housing supplement that made me feel like their handbook was written by Kafka. Adding to that the record amount of students paying back their handout with 15% interest... You are aware you're entitled to an interpreter service? So you know exactly what the different papers mean as there is no human soul there. And ask several opinions, as they really are confused themselves of the interpretation of their own system. Can't say anything but good luck for the three of you.

[littlefrank]

Give them documents, the more documents you have the better, they like them, it impresses them, you will probably need to appeal, appeal. Apply for social benefits, there you will need documents, lots of them, it puts off some people from claiming it, claim it.

[hychamaz]

Thanks you Hank for your wonderful advice. I really appreciate that and see how important it is in how I present my situation. I will definately follow through with your advice. Little Frank, I will do as you say also and flood them with documents. Thank you both. I really appreciate your help during this rough time.

[vincebel]

Hi here whats kela and the job explain to me.

First because i have a higher degree diploma, im allowed to receive unemployment money two months after i register in the job office. You can register only under certain conditions. in my case finnish baby and paternity etc...
So from the 5th of february until the 21st of february, date of the start of my integation program. The ammount of money i receive is the same in both cases. 24,95 + 4,95 per day. I receive 8 more for the finnish lessons.

I asked if i could stay at home to take care of the baby. the answer is yes but i receive no more money, just the parental allowance from kela which is 350 per month (that my girlfriend will so no more receive), because i kinda refuse the integration program, which is normal. Note that i receive less parental money that my girlfriend could get cos i havent paid taxes in 2006...

The finnish lessons last 10 months and the integation program if i understood well last 3 years.

I think that the father can get a kinda parental care 'holiday' and stay at home for a while and still be paid under the same conditions as usual but im not sure at all. In my case all this kela stuff started well after this 'father care time' cos the baby is 4 months now

I didnt want to ask more about this to the job agency because there are only 16 open seats and apparently more than 40 applications and i really would like to go.

[vincebel]

also concerning the rent allowance we lost it when i applied for the unemployment money but kela told us that we have to reapply again for the rent allowance.

crazy no?

[Hank W.]

I worked in a 7-eleven by day and as a cook at night
You will feel better if you just say no.

Yeah, which doesn't help really, as the employers here just say no.

[Hank W.]

I really appreciate that and see how important it is in how I present my situation.

Yeah, the problem you will be facing is that you will inadvertently "think"... now remember not to "think" - question everything. Imagine you're dealing with MrSpock... its "according to Vulcan Logic"... Try and get someone with you who has come from the US who knows how "you think" and who has been here done that who know how "Vulcans think".

[hychamaz]

Gee, I have simpathy, but then as one who also was qualified for the Nanny state care, I found ways to just not need it. I worked in a 7-eleven by day and as a cook at night (You eat well as a cook by the way).

You will feel better if you just say no.

What in Gods name are you talking about. If you read my post, I cannot leave my wife for now. Got it

[Hank W.]

No, but on the other hand do they want you to stay? (well, the answer is "as long as you conform to their box")

[Hank W.]

Hey, ridgemd, this is not a problem. We have the Nanny State there for a reason