How much time does the social security decision take?

[neronakos]

Hi to all. I would like to know how much time does the Finnish social security decision by kela usually takes.
At 30/4 I stayed unemployed. I went to kela to apply for unemployment benefits and they told me to go and register as unemployed which I did (because I am also a student, it took them until the end of July to decide if I am a part time student or if I am considered unemployed). So when I got the decision from the TE Office (that I am unemployed) I went to kela to apply. Then they told me that I also need to apply for Finnish social security. After the applications I asked them how much time is going to take and she told me 3-4 weeks. I called yesterday since one month has passed and had no news and they told me that this might take 2-6 months. Is it true? And what can I do in the mean time since I don't have enough money to survive the next month? Should I just leave the country?

[Honest]

You can leave the country if it solves your problems. Other option is to go to the social office which hands out money to the poor and the needy.

[neronakos]

You can leave the country if it solves your problems. Other option is to go to the social office which hands out money to the poor and the needy.

Well I thought about that, but since my social security status is still pending, will they give me something?

I had a friend who waited five months. Kela are the ones who know how long the wait is right now and they have already told you 2-6 months. You came here as a student and knew you had to support yourself, so surely you can use your savings? You've even told others here that they have to support themselves. I am surprised Kela is even considering you for coverage, how did you manage that?

Because, when I registered to maistraati I was register as a worker and not as a student. I hadn't registered until I found a job and if I hadn't I wouldn't have continued my studies. As I have told to other people, being enthusiastic alone doesn't count.

You came here as a student and knew you had to support yourself, so surely you can use your savings?

Well instead of telling me to go first thing to the TE Office, they could have told me to apply for this Finnish social security thingy and then do the rest. I did that at the end of April. Now it would have already been 4 months by that. So no more savings. I didn't make a fortune to begin with.

[faronel]

I am surprised Kela is even considering you for coverage, how did you manage that?

Maybe it has something to do with the competency of an official who receives the application? "Yes, thank you for the application - KELA will look into it and you will receive the decision sometime in 4 weeks", when actually there might not even be a good reason why a person could have the opportunity to get a social security coverage. The first time I applied for KELA coverage, I also did not have the reasons (at least I understood that after the final decision), but KELA still took my case and I waited for 3,5 months.

But regarding the length: it takes time. The longest I know was 6 months (a friend of mine waited). The shortest I know was 2 months (another friend of mine).

Another thing: did you apply for the unemployment benefit as well? If you didn't, then it is a separate application. Even if you have grounds for KELA coverage, your initial application is just for that coverage, which means "being eligible to receive certain benefits under certain circumstances if you apply for them then". To get the unemployment benefits, you have to file another application separately.

[faronel]

About "if it is worth trying the social office?", what do you have to lose? Some benefits sosiaalitoimisto grants, go through KELA, some may be from their own budget.

If you need food, consider church-organized food shelters. Relatively good and tasty food, better than no food.

[betelgeuse]

I called yesterday since one month has passed and had no news and they told me that this might take 2-6 months. Is it true? And what can I do in the mean time since I don't have enough money to survive the next month? Should I just leave the country?

Google for your municipality and toimeentulotuki. For example Helsinki:

http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/en/socia ... e-support/

They are required by law to give a decision within 7 days. Assuming you are eligible they will pay you until the Kela money starts to run (and even help you in getting it) and then they will ask Kela to pay them back at least a part of the money that has been paid to you.

[neronakos]

I am surprised Kela is even considering you for coverage, how did you manage that?

Maybe it has something to do with the competency of an official who receives the application? "Yes, thank you for the application - KELA will look into it and you will receive the decision sometime in 4 weeks", when actually there might not even be a good reason why a person could have the opportunity to get a social security coverage.

I am considered as unemployed and not a student. I "managed" that because I am register as a worker in maistraati and not as a student. Also, I had to wait one month for the TE Office to take this decision and then they send me a letter saying that I am eligible for unemployment benefit as of May 15. This decision though came back at the end of July, and then I went to Kela to apply.

Another thing: did you apply for the unemployment benefit as well? If you didn't, then it is a separate application. Even if you have grounds for KELA coverage, your initial application is just for that coverage, which means "being eligible to receive certain benefits under certain circumstances if you apply for them then". To get the unemployment benefits, you have to file another application separately.

Yes, I went to Kela to apply for the unemployment benefit, and there they told me that I needed to apply for the social security thingy and for rent allowance. I applied for everything, I asked how much is going to take and the lady told me 3 to 4 weeks. (I guess she meant only the benefits). So after one month I called them to see why I haven't got a decision and they told me it will take 2 to 6 months.

Google for your municipality and toimeentulotuki. For example Helsinki:

http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/en/socia ... e-support/

They are required by law to give a decision within 7 days. Assuming you are eligible they will pay you until the Kela money starts to run (and even help you in getting it) and then they will ask Kela to pay them back at least a part of the money that has been paid to you.

I see, that is good, I will try it. Thanks a lot

[faronel]

I am considered as unemployed and not a student. I "managed" that because I am register as a worker in maistraati and not as a student. Also, I had to wait one month for the TE Office to take this decision and then they send me a letter saying that I am eligible for unemployment benefit as of May 15. This decision though came back at the end of July, and then I went to Kela to apply.

Don't confuse TE Office's opinion and KELA's decision. If TE Office sees you as an unemployed person who is looking for work, they have no problem sending a request to KELA to ask them to grant you the unemployment benefits. KELA, then, makes its own decision whether to grant you those benefits or not. First, KELA will look at whether you have KELA coverage rights at all. Then, they will look if TE Office supports you in getting those benefits. If both are ticked as "yes", then no problem.

But...

KELA will first look at your eligibility to get KELA social security coverage. You got Finnish SSN etc from Maistraatti based on your working contract. That is great. But for how long did that working contract last or was supposed to last? That has a big impact on their decision. If you had a short-term contract and paid taxes like 2-3 months, then, sorry, no coverage. If you worked at least 6-12 months on a contract that supposed to last more than that, then you may have chances.

[betelgeuse]

I am considered as unemployed and not a student. I "managed" that because I am register as a worker in maistraati and not as a student.

The population register that maistraatti maintains does not differentiate workers and students. It does differentiate between temporary and permanent residence (which is different from residence permit terminology). What is important is the basis you used to apply for resident permit or register the right of residence.

[neronakos]

I am considered as unemployed and not a student. I "managed" that because I am register as a worker in maistraati and not as a student.

The population register that maistraatti maintains does not differentiate workers and students. It does differentiate between temporary and permanent residence (which is different from residence permit terminology). What is important is the basis you used to apply for resident permit or register the right of residence.

Yes, sorry, I always mix these things. But I know that a friend of mine who had come here as a student couldn't apply for benefits. I came here considered as worker and not a student. I remember in one of these papers, that the reason for coming here was asked and I filled working. I applied for permanent residence, since the lady told me that it is the same for me (I am from EU).

Don't confuse TE Office's opinion and KELA's decision. If TE Office sees you as an unemployed person who is looking for work, they have no problem sending a request to KELA to ask them to grant you the unemployment benefits. KELA, then, makes its own decision whether to grant you those benefits or not. First, KELA will look at whether you have KELA coverage rights at all. Then, they will look if TE Office supports you in getting those benefits. If both are ticked as "yes", then no problem.

But...

KELA will first look at your eligibility to get KELA social security coverage. You got Finnish SSN etc from Maistraatti based on your working contract. That is great. But for how long did that working contract last or was supposed to last? That has a big impact on their decision. If you had a short-term contract and paid taxes like 2-3 months, then, sorry, no coverage. If you worked at least 6-12 months on a contract that supposed to last more than that, then you may have chances.

My contract was until further notice and I was working for one year before I got fired for financial reasons (The company did lay offs).

[faronel]

My contract was until further notice and I was working for one year before I got fired for financial reasons (The company did lay offs).

Then good luck. Write here, how it works out (which many do not do after they get the reply).

[neronakos]

My contract was until further notice and I was working for one year before I got fired for financial reasons (The company did lay offs).

Then good luck. Write here, how it works out (which many do not do after they get the reply).

I will and thanks for the help. Well, I guess they don't if time has passed, because they might thing that it is such an old subject to bring back.

[betelgeuse]

If you leave the country, you get nothing... unemployment benefit is not paid to people not living in Finland and as far as I know they still stop the payments if it's only a holiday..

You probably have the old law in mind. These days you are allowed to take holidays abroad. See for example:

https://ohje.te-palvelut.fi/hloasiakas/ ... omaanmatka

"1.7.2012 alkaen ulkomaanmatka ei ole este saada työttömyysetuutta."

[cors187]

I had a specialist type salary, a perpetual contract and they made me wait 8 months before they handed over the perpetual kela card.

[betelgeuse]

I had a specialist type salary, a perpetual contract and they made me wait 8 months before they handed over the perpetual kela card.

Did they take the 8 months to make a decision or did they first deny you and say to apply again later?