Kela and benefits for student-worker?

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:46 pm

Hello! Sorry if I post to the wrong section. I would like your help,
I am a student (master) but I am also working part time here in Finland. I am coming from an EU country. I am 31 years old. There is a possibility that I would get fired. In this case, I would like to know if I am eligible of any benefit, or if I could go to this integration program (that you can also go to school). I am working since October 2013 but I became permanent register only by March 2014. So please, if anyone, can you give me your help?

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 4:07 pm

student => not unemployed => no Kela handout
And as a masters student I don't think you qualify for an integration course either.

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 4:49 pm

rinso wrote:student => not unemployed => no Kela handout
And as a masters student I don't think you qualify for an integration course either.

Thanks a lot for the answer. But what if I stop my studies? I mean I am finishing my studies in September

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:21 pm

You can call Kela and ask:

http://www.kela.fi/web/en/phone-services

If you can convince them that your primary purpose of being here is not studying then you can get student financial aid:

http://www.kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid ... n-students

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:20 pm

betelgeuse wrote: If you can convince them that your primary purpose of being here is not studying then you can get student financial aid:

Iirc you had to live here (registered) for two years before you start studying if you wanted this students aid.

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:59 pm

rinso wrote:
betelgeuse wrote: If you can convince them that your primary purpose of being here is not studying then you can get student financial aid:
Iirc you had to live here (registered) for two years before you start studying if you wanted this students aid.

I have helped a person apply for student financial aid who arrived here on A permit that was based on being a descendant of a Finnish citizen. No two year requirement came up so I assume there's none for EU citizens either. The bigger problem here is that the OP probably recorded studies as the reason when registering right of residence.

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:54 pm

betelgeuse wrote:
rinso wrote:
betelgeuse wrote: If you can convince them that your primary purpose of being here is not studying then you can get student financial aid:
Iirc you had to live here (registered) for two years before you start studying if you wanted this students aid.
I have helped a person apply for student financial aid who arrived here on A permit that was based on being a descendant of a Finnish citizen. No two year requirement came up so I assume there's none for EU citizens either. The bigger problem here is that the OP probably recorded studies as the reason when registering right of residence.

No, my reason is both studying and working since when I applied for the residence permit I was already working.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:11 am

neronakos wrote:I am coming from an EU country.
...
I applied for the residence permit

Now I'm confused.

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:34 pm

rinso wrote:
neronakos wrote:I am coming from an EU country.
...
I applied for the residence permit
Now I'm confused.

Even if you are from an EU country, you need to apply for registering as a permanent resident. And you also need to say the reason you are in the country. My reason was studying and working.
Maybe I am mixing the terms and it doesn't call residence permit. I mean, I went to the maistraati and applied for a permanent residence.

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:03 pm

tummansininen wrote:In regards to Integration support, it is no longer tied to whether you get integration money from Kela, like it used to be - when I was on it last year I knew several people getting no money support from Kela but doing the Finnish courses for free, and it included EU people. "In theory" all new immigrants to Finland can get integration support from MOL for up to the first three years. Of course as some people have said you might not be counted as an "immigrant" because you came here for purposes of study. Students are not considered residents but are a special case. Contact http://www.mol.fi and register as a jobseeker, and while you are talking to them find out if Integration is a possibility. If you live in Helsinki you can also just rock up to Pasila office.

If you are asking whether you can get into Integration support and continue your masters, the answer will be no. In almost all cases they will demand you do full-time Finnish studies and nothing else. If your Finnish is already good, you might be allowed to do one of their free courses, which are generally trade courses such as bricklaying, car repair, tiling and so on. University is not part of the picture and I know people who've been rejected for uni study and forced to choose between studying Finnish or losing integration support. You have a BA so you'll be considered "work ready" apart from your Finnish.

If you were actually asking whether you can get student money from Kela - you came here for study and are not a Finn, so the answer's very likely gunna be no. But you can independently apply for Kela coverage and see whether you get it, as betelgeuse suggested. Do the MOL first as they will not backdate anything and many Kela payments require being MOL-registered first.

Thanks a lot for the answer. As soon as I will get fired I will apply.
I am not asking if I can do both masters and integration courses since I will finnish my master by September. I also have already another master from my country, so I guess I am still ready to work. My finnish are kind of non existent and that is why I want the courses. Thanks a lot, maybe the best way I guess is to go and ask face to face!

neronakos · Post by **neronakos** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:46 pm

tummansininen wrote:You can register with MOL at any time, even if you are still working or still studying
Then just let them know when your circumstances change.

Hi! I got fired. I will stop working at end of April. I went to the site of mol.fi. Should I just register online or do I need to go to the TE Office?

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