Eligibility for KELA?

[nalvil]

Hi guys, I have a question regarding KELA and maybe you can just clarify it.

I moved to Finland last September as a degree student with my boyfriend, who has started his Ph.D this February, for at least the next 4 years. We're both from Spain. First of all I thought I wouldn't be eligible for KELA, but a colleague of his told him that maybe I would be eligible in half a year because we're a couple and he's now a worker. We are not married, but we have been living together for 4 years (this is the first one in Finland).

Based on these facts, can someone clarify this for me?
Thank you in advance.

[Rip]

Nothing lost at least if you try (frankly I've got confused with the rules). The application form is included on this page under the link
"Application concerning Finnish residence-based social security and health insurance"
http://www.kela.fi/web/en/moving-to-finland

classify yourself as family member, not a student

[nalvil]

OK, thank you, I will do that. I've looked a lot in KELA website but I got nothing clear...

[lpuerto]

I am in the same situation as you... I am also spanish and I have come recently to Finland because my gf got a PhD contract. Where are you living? We are living in Joensuu...

I think that it is very important to pinpoint to Kela personnel that your partner has a contract, a four year one. I think this change things. Other important point is that you should tell them you coming to stay here forever!

Please, keep us updated!

[nalvil]

Hei Ipuerto.

We're living in Turku. In our case, my bf has a 1-year contract which will be renewed every year for 4 years, although he already got the funding for the whole Ph.D. I'm really confused about all of this, I guess the best is just to give it a try as Rip said.

I will wait until next august/september to do it since then my partner will have worked 6 months already (Am I right on this?).

Cheers!

[lpuerto]

Hi!

As I have told you, the key point is the contract of you partner and in the case you were not married or register as couple, document the relation.

I have not receive my reply yet, but browsing on the Kela web you can find this information:

Moving to or from Finland
Eligibility for Finnish social security benefits is based on residence in Finland. With certain exceptions, all permanent residents are entitled to social security benefits from Kela.

When you move to or from Finland, Kela issues a decision on your eligibility for social security benefits. This decision is founded on the Act on the Implementation of the Social Security Legislation (1573/1993).

If you intend to move abroad for less than a year, you will retain your coverage under the Finnish social security system for the duration of your stay and will qualify for Kela benefits. If you intend to stay abroad for more than a year, your residence will be considered as permanent, in which case your social security coverage in Finland will end.

When moving to Finland, you will normally be covered by the Finnish social security system if you intend to move here permanently. Indications of a permanent move are, for example, return migration to Finland, employment in Finland lasting at least 2 years, and a marriage or other close familial relationship with a person permanently residing in Finland.

http://www.kela.fi/web/en/residence

You can also find more information in this pdf: http://www.kela.fi/documents/10180/5787 ... e4f4f7da4c

but the key points are:

Page 3
What is permanent residence?
You are resident in Finland if your main home and residence are here and you spend most of your time here.
You move to Finland permanently in, for example, the following cases:

• You have a work agreement for at least 2 years of work in Finland.
• You are married or in another type of close family relationship with a person who lives in Finland permanently.

Page 6
The family members of employees coming from EU or EEA (European Economic Area) countries or from Switzerland can get medical care, child benefit and child home care benefits, even if they do not live in Finland themselves or their stay in Finland is only temporary.
…
Conditions connected with Kela benefits
…
However, some benefits are paid only to those who have lived in Finland for a certain period before benefits can be given.
These are, for example, daily allowances paid on the basis of being a parent, Kela’s unemployment benefits, Kela’s pensions, and benefits for the disabled who are over 16 years old.

In granting some types of benefits, the insurance periods in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland are taken into account.

The key factor is to show then that you are moving here permanently and you have a stable relation with him. I would not wait to file your application since they can delay the answer up to 4 months.

Good luck in your process and I hope you find a job soon.