Husband in army - financial support for family?

-Kielo- · Post by **-Kielo-** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:29 pm

My Finnish husband and I currently live in Australia with our 4 month old daughter but the plan is to move to Finland in a few years' time. I had some concerns about how I could get by and support my daughter while my husband is serving in the army, and whether it would be financially possible for me to be a stay-at-home mum. He said the government would pay my rent, groceries, other living expenses, hobbies etc. but surely this sounds too good to be true?

And would I still qualify for this support even though I wouldn't be a Finnish citizen or permanent resident at the time?

Anyone been in a similar situation? Would love to hear how it all works! Thanks, guys!

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Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:45 pm

If your husband is the sole breadwinner (not to mention the fact that you have kids), I think it is unlikely he would have to complete his military service. Maybe just 3 days induction or whatever they call it. As far as I remember it's on a case-by-case basis.

Do you have EU nationality? You should be granted residency without any problems as you are married to a Finn, but I'm no expert.

-Kielo- · Post by **-Kielo-** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:17 pm

I had wondered this but the hubby seems to think the only 2 ways to get out of military service is to either become a citizen of another country or become a Jehovah's Witness (:D).

When we were preparing for my husband to move to Australia, he had to prove to the army that we were expecting a child and they only allowed him to postpone his military service by 18 months. He was under the impression that he would only be able to keep postponing it but would have to complete it eventually?

Would he still be able to get out of serving if I were working but on a low income that couldn't fully support us? Or would I get financial supplements?

I have dual citizenship with Australia and England. Hopefully the EU passport might help things! It's been a while since I've looked into the details of residency permits so I don't remember exactly but I'll check the marriage thing again, thanks!

FinnGuyHelsinki · Post by **FinnGuyHelsinki** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:23 pm

-Kielo- wrote:Would he still be able to get out of serving if I were working but on a low income that couldn't fully support us?

No, the financial aid is available for that (whether adequate in any given situation, that's another thing), as long as you're not exempt from the service on some valid ground, you have a choice of military service, alternate service or prison.

-Kielo- · Post by **-Kielo-** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:41 pm

So, even if I'm on a temporary visa, I would be eligible for financial aid, then? Is this because I'm married to a Finn or would any foreigner be eligible? I ask this because only permanent residents and citizens here in Australia can get family financial assistance etc. and I don't know if the system in Finland is different.
Is having a dependent family considered "valid ground" to be exempt from the army?

EP · Post by EP » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:55 pm

Is having a dependent family considered "valid ground" to be exempt from the army?

No.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:03 pm

penelope wrote:If your husband is the sole breadwinner (not to mention the fact that you have kids), I think it is unlikely he would have to complete his military service. Maybe just 3 days induction or whatever they call it. As far as I remember it's on a case-by-case basis.

Dunno if the new law has changed anything, but being single dad wasn't a reason to not do your military service. Quick googling didn't tell me much, 2000 Minister of Defense told to the parliament that it is the county's social services' business to take care of the kids when the dad is doing his service and 2006 is some chit chat at forums where someone knows someone etc. who has had his kids in foster home during the weeks and another case where the dad went to jail as total objector.

-Kielo- · Post by **-Kielo-** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:12 pm

That's a bit of a shock! I would have thought that it were in the government's best interests to allow the dad to look after his kids instead of going to the army... Seeing as social services are then faced with the responsibility of taking care of the children.

Anyway, thanks for the help! Now I just need to know if my husband was right that my rent etc. would be paid by the government? It seems hard to believe but I have heard that Finland does have a good welfare system.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:16 pm

-Kielo- wrote:Anyway, thanks for the help! Now I just need to know if my husband was right that my rent etc. would be paid by the government? It seems hard to believe but I have heard that Finland does have a good welfare system.

http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english.nsf

-Kielo- · Post by **-Kielo-** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:24 pm

Thanks! Excellent! I found the section on Conscript's Allowance.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:13 pm

And BTW if you have British nationality then I assume you will come here as an EU citizen (just forget your Aussie passport at home) - so you won't have "temporary" residency you will get a KELA (social security) number straight away due to your husband being Finnish. Same as me, Brit married to a Finn, it was quite painless.

Do your children have British / Finnish passports too? They will also get "local" ID when they arrive in Finland.

I remember when we arrived in 2001 everything sort of happened "automagically". Once you have the Kela number everything follows through quite smoothly.

Crazy about fathers having to do military service... In France (which until quite recently also had conscription) military service was not compulsory for men with families, sons of widows etc which, IMO, makes good sense. I just don't get the point of the state having to support you so your husband can enjoy the pleasure of camping in the forest for a few months.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:39 pm

penelope wrote:Crazy about fathers having to do military service... In France (which until quite recently also had conscription) military service was not compulsory for men with families, sons of widows etc which, IMO, makes good sense. I just don't get the point of the state having to support you so your husband can enjoy the pleasure of camping in the forest for a few months.

True. I think the law supposes that every male does his service when he is 18 or 19 and doesn't have family yet. On the other hand Finnish system doesn't "know" stay at home mother/father and I think that the amount of benefits doesn't depend (as much, or even at all) about how much the other half earns.

lionel · Post by **lionel** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:33 pm

penelope wrote:
Crazy about fathers having to do military service... In France (which until quite recently also had conscription) military service was not compulsory for men with families, sons of widows etc which, IMO, makes good sense. I just don't get the point of the state having to support you so your husband can enjoy the pleasure of camping in the forest for a few months.

Not quite related to th OPs post but why is Finland always preaching how equal their society is but there is no conscription for females here ? Anyone on here ever found a satisfatoriy explanation for this ??

FinnGuyHelsinki · Post by **FinnGuyHelsinki** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:16 pm

penelope wrote:Crazy about fathers having to do military service... In France (which until quite recently also had conscription) military service was not compulsory for men with families, sons of widows etc which, IMO, makes good sense. I just don't get the point of the state having to support you so your husband can enjoy the pleasure of camping in the forest for a few months.

The point of military service is to prepare for the eventuality of war, not doing military service. Since the chosen way in Finland to go about it is a cadre army, all (men who are not Jehova's witnesses) are required to go through military service (or non-military service or go to prison). One can debate about the validity of the system in today's world, but Finland doesn't have the same luxury as France in regards to population, nor the backing of allies to save our skin if things really take a nasty turn. Considering the fact that the system relies on the vast majority to take up arms should the need arise, the crazy thing would be the exempt men with families from at least some form of basic training.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:02 pm

FinnGuyHelsinki wrote:
penelope wrote:Crazy about fathers having to do military service... In France (which until quite recently also had conscription) military service was not compulsory for men with families, sons of widows etc which, IMO, makes good sense. I just don't get the point of the state having to support you so your husband can enjoy the pleasure of camping in the forest for a few months.
The point of military service is to prepare for the eventuality of war, not doing military service. Since the chosen way in Finland to go about it is a cadre army, all (men who are not Jehova's witnesses) are required to go through military service (or non-military service or go to prison). One can debate about the validity of the system in today's world, but Finland doesn't have the same luxury as France in regards to population, nor the backing of allies to save our skin if things really take a nasty turn. Considering the fact that the system relies on the vast majority to take up arms should the need arise, the crazy thing would be the exempt men with families from at least some form of basic training.

You sound like my husband

My guess is you are over 50, a reservist in the army (or you indulge in some kind of para-military hobby) and Russia is not top of your list of places to visit before you turn 60

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