Kela application

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:49 pm

I sent the form Y77e on the 20th january to the address stated in the form itself (centre for international affairs, PO Box 78, 00381 HELSINKI).
So far I haven't had any answer yet. Compared to other finnish standards this is taking too long... Is this normal or should I have applied to the kela office in my town (Rauma)?

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betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:01 am

You should login to their web service at kela.fi to see if they have received your application. If yes you wait some more, otherwise the web service probably makes it possible to apply (but the forms are only in Finnish or Swedish).

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:31 am

Thanks, but I haven't a bank account yet (still using the one in my home country) and I only have a prepaid sim card, so I don't know how to authenticate myself.

ritan7471 · Post by **ritan7471** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:25 am

Oh, I applied in the beginning of August 2012 at the In To Finland office and got my response in November 2012, so I think you're jumping the gun a bit.

EDIT: Just counted months and I guess maybe you will hear something soon. I would advise going to a Kela office to check whether they do indeed have your application, if you can't authenticate your identity online.

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:37 pm

Thanks Ritan. So it's such a long way to kela...

I'll check at the local office then.

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:52 pm

eirinn wrote:Thanks, but I haven't a bank account yet (still using the one in my home country) and I only have a prepaid sim card, so I don't know how to authenticate myself.

In the long term being able to identify online is useful so you should look into the following options:

1) Finnish ID for foreigners (the chip can be used with a reader to identify to Kela)
2) Bank account. For example S-Bank is free (you will need to do the deposit for any of the co-operatives but it pays decent 10% interest usually). Any bank will require you to get the Finnish ID if you do have not have a European passport, id-card or driver's license in order to identify yourself online.
3) Post paid sim with identify functionality (hasn't been that widely deployed yet but Kela does support it)

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:53 pm

http://www.kela.fi/kasittelyajat

The target processing time for your application is 4 weeks.

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:50 pm

Thanks Betelgeuse.
I've been to Kela, the answer should come in 3 or 4 months

On top of that, for the application to the labour market subsidy I need to declare my bank account number, so afterwards I've been to the bank (Nordea), and they told me that I can't open an account unless I have some kind of income from Kela or from a job, which I actually do not have. It's like a dog chasing its tail... I have also a fair amount of money in my home country, so it would be really useful to be able to transfer them here while I'm looking for a job. It's the first time I hear of a bank who doesn't want a new customer...

I'll try to work it out with Osuuspankki, which hopefully will mean less hassles, as I have read here.

catwoman · Post by **catwoman** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:44 pm

Try going to an other Nordea office if possible. Or try the same one again. With different person talking to you. At first I was told by one Nordea worker, that I need to have income, I need this or that. So... I went to an other office of theirs and ALL I needed to open an account was my passport. That was like 2 years ago though. Maybe things changed now...

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:52 am

eirinn wrote: I've been to Kela, the answer should come in 3 or 4 months On top of that, for the application to the labour market subsidy I need to declare my bank account number, so afterwards I've been to the bank (Nordea)

Do note that labour market subsidy can be paid to any European bank account (työttömyysturvalaki 11 luvun 5 pykälä).

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2 ... 1290#L11P5

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:12 pm

Good to know! However, being a client of a more near bank would come in handy.

eirinn · Post by **eirinn** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:50 pm

Just for the sake of information, I've got the answer today

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