Marrying a Finn

[ailema4ever]

Julichka, why the rush to marry then? Better save as much money as possible and then consider getting married once you two have plenty of savings.

Tummansininen's right. Don't expect too much. Better just bring as much savings as possible.

Besides, living in your own apt. means that you have to buy lots of things...furniture and every little thing (pans, etc.) and they don't come cheap. Plus besides the monthly apt. rent, you get to pay the electricity and water bill and TV bill and internet bill (if you use the internet) plus mobile bill. So many other bills.

I've lived here for 5 months now and I still don't get any unemployment benefit even though I married a Finn. I didn't really expect to get any benefit in the first place. I worked hard for years in my home country to save money just in case we have financial trouble in the future. So even though KELA doesn't give me any money, we still get by and I still have some savings intact. JUST IN CASE.

Besides, as far as I know, when you first move to a new apt. you have to pay double rent price...as a guarantee. So do calculate things first IN CASE KELA doesn't give you anything.

[Hank W.]

my bf is a student but they dont pay him student grant, what if we move to our own flat, i've got no job and kela doesn't pay me, will he get the unemployment benefits??

No, because he is a student. You may not be a student if you are unemployed. Regardless of if you get a benefit or no, it automatically disqualifies you.

[ailema4ever]

As far as I'm concerned, if someone plans to leave one's home country to go to a new country where one doesn't speak the language, then one had better bring as much savings as possible, esp. if the spouse hasn't got a permanent job yet. So I again agree with tummansininen.

Life can be unpredictable sometimes (esp. in a new country), so better prepare yourself with plan B (and C and D if possible).

[bm50]

Julichka,
You must do as follows!
1. Get married.
2.Apply for your residence permit.
3.Take your permit to the population registras office and get your social security number (then you are in the finnish computer system) you can't do anything in Finland without your number.
4.Go and register as a jobseeker at the employment office ( take your passport, residence permit with you) they will give you an appointment to go there to make your integration plan, this is to discuss your future work study plans etc, the integration plan is for 3 years and during this time you will get the integration allowance from Kela.
5. Make an appointment with your local social worker, they can help if you are desperate for financial help, which you are entitled to as your future husband is a finnish citizen.
6. Do it in that order.

[ailema4ever]

I've been in Finland for 5 months without any benefit from KELA though my Finnish hubby was unemployed for the first 3 months I was here (but he got unemployment benefit - barely enough to cover BOTH of our expenses - that's why I suggested Julichka to bring as much savings as possible).

So you can't expect KELA to pay the unemployment benefit to immigrants straight away, I guess...I registered myself to seek jobs in the employment office already the first week I arrived here. Well, dunno if some other people are luckier than me in getting the integration benefit from KELA.

Gladly now my hubby's got a permanent job already. PHEW!!!

AMEL

[bm50]

Yes of course there is a waiting period before you recieve benefits from Kela, maybe 5-6 months or less, it depends on if you were working before you come to Finland and if you have a university degree or not.
But of course Kela will not pay any benefits if your spouse is working and you have income coming into your home every month, it is means tested.

[ailema4ever]

Yeah, that's the point why I shared my story. The waiting period...I don't want Julichka to come here with the hope of getting benefit RIGHT AWAY and then be disappointed by reality.

Hmmm...I guess there's really no "clear rules" about things like this, eh? You just have to be prepared for anything.

[bm50]

I have some info on the integration plan from the employment office immigrant services unit.
Labour market support=integration assistance from KELA.
Labour market support and integration allowance = 23,91e per day + 8e per day maintenance subsidy if you are on a training course ( finnish language etc ) + possible child supplement to be decided by KELA.
Labour market support waiting period is 5 months, the waiting period applies to unskilled jobseekers irrespective of age, if they have not completed a vocational degree or do not meet the time at work condition set for the daily unemployment benefit. Example, before registration as a jobseeker in the previous 6 months have been employed, or they have a degree may reduce the waiting period.

[ailema4ever]

THANKS, Cockney!

I suppose the info'll REALLY be useful for Julichka.

[Julichka]

what about the language course? will i still get 140e a month if i go to finnish lang. course from the unemployment office? or do i have to wait 5 months for that too?

[Julichka]

Hmm... "there's no wait for integration assistance"... do you mean taking the finnish courses? what kind of integration is there more?? so in other words... as soon as i get my residence permit.. or after a while.. i can get some money from KELA? but not the unemployment benefits?

[bm50]

There are 3 types of unemployment benefits in Finland.
1.Earnings related, 23,91 per day + eanings related amount.
2. Basic daily amount 23,91 per day if you have been working in the previous 6 months before you register as unemployed.
3.Labour market support 23,91 per day if you do not meet the above work requirement, this is the same as benefit you will recieve for 3 years during your integration plan, also while you are on a labour market training course, language etc, you will get from Kela from the day you start the course you don't wait 5 months + 8e per day 160e per month for as long as you are on the course.
But it will be almost impossible that you will find a language course as soon as you have your integration plan as there are hundreds of immigrants trying to find language course places.
I know for a fact it is 5 months waiting period as my wife has just done her integration plan but she has just 2 months waiting because she has a university degree.
A migrant just arrived in Finland can't get labour market support until they register with the employment office and get their integration plan, but if they are from an EU country they can get their unemployment benefits transfered to Finland for 3 months.

[Julichka]

Thanks a lot bm50!!
is it 5 months from the moment i finished the integration plan?? or since i registered in kela?

well I kinda have a certificate (from high school though...) + Technological diploma (from there too.. i was in technological high school)... finished Production management... could this count as a degree? =\

[bm50]

The waiting period starts from when you first register at the employment office thats when you have your residence permit and social security number you must show them at the employment office, then you might wait about 2 weeks for an appointment to set up your integration plan, and when you go to the appointment you must take all your papers, diplomas etc, from your school college etc, with you then they decide about the waiting period.
But are you working now? If so then the waiting period will be shorter, are you in Finland yet?
But remember once you have your residence permit and social security number you are in the finnish system, so if you can't survive because you do not have enough money you must make an appointment with your local social worker and maybe they can help you, go there with your husband.

[Julichka]

hmm.. i live in israel.. well i kinda work here, but in different places all the time, like packing and so on, usually temporarily, does it count? :=\
im coming to finland in october.... well actually moving in... we're gonna get married then