Kela Card Unlimited or Expiry Date

[wayne1978]

I am from a non EU country and came here to study on permit B.I got an employment contract at university as researcher in 2013 for two years but the RP status remained B.Me and my family were granted Kela card and there was no end date on kela card. My wife started to get child home-stay and child benefit(lapsilisa). My contract ended in September 2015 and I do not have a job. Kela says that social security coverage was only with the employment contract and even though I am in the social coverage, I cannot claim any unemployment or housing benefit. What the hell? When I was employed, I was getting good salary, and never needed to claim unemployment or housing benefit?
My friend says that some people have an expiry date on their kela cards and without an expiry date, once a person enters in the social security coverage, it remains for life unless the person loses the right to residence,RP is revoked or cancelled or if someone leaves Finland voluntarily/or deported. He says this social coverage is residence based and if you are living here on a legal RP(even if it is B), you should be entitled to all the benefits(they are evaluated depending on individual circumsatnces).
Funny thing is my wife is getting the benefits, what confuses me is that she is entitled to benefits but I am not, I am the reason why she is entitled to them. She and kids also have B permit.
Can someone explain what are my entitlements and do I have coverage because I have paid taxes etc. and earned salary for 2+ years. I want to continue my studies but Kela says I am not even entitled to Study allowance because my salary contract is expired and I am on a B permit.
I am totally confused. Wife says stay away from probing Kela again and again because they might also stop her money and child benefits.

[betelgeuse]

I am from a non EU country and came here to study on permit B.I got an employment contract at university as researcher in 2013 for two years but the RP status remained B.Me and my family were granted Kela card and there was no end date on kela card. My wife started to get child home-stay and child benefit(lapsilisa). My contract ended in September 2015 and I do not have a job. Kela says that social security coverage was only with the employment contract and even though I am in the social coverage, I cannot claim any unemployment or housing benefit. What the hell? When I was employed, I was getting good salary, and never needed to claim unemployment or housing benefit?

Seems to contradict Kela's own web pages on temporary contracts:

"As an employee, you will be covered under the Finnish Unemployment Security Act as soon as you start work. However, to qualify for unemployment allowance, you must have worked in Finland for at least 6 months beginning 1 January 2014 or later."

http://www.kela.fi/web/en/working-in-fi ... ed-persons

My friend says that some people have an expiry date on their kela cards and without an expiry date, once a person enters in the social security coverage, it remains for life unless the person loses the right to residence,RP is revoked or cancelled or if someone leaves Finland voluntarily/or deported. He says this social coverage is residence based and if you are living here on a legal RP(even if it is B), you should be entitled to all the benefits(they are evaluated depending on individual circumsatnces).

Reasonably accurate.

Funny thing is my wife is getting the benefits, what confuses me is that she is entitled to benefits but I am not, I am the reason why she is entitled to them. She and kids also have B permit.
Can someone explain what are my entitlements and do I have coverage because I have paid taxes etc. and earned salary for 2+ years. I want to continue my studies but Kela says I am not even entitled to Study allowance because my salary contract is expired and I am on a B permit.
I am totally confused. Wife says stay away from probing Kela again and again because they might also stop her money and child benefits.

Student benefits have special rules on residence permits. They are not available on B permits.

https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/ ... 40065#L1P1

To me it sounds like you are entitled to unemployment benefits. However, you are not considered unemployed if you are enrolled in a full time study program. To me it seems like you should try for this. Read this to see if you might be eligible.

http://www.te-services.fi/te/en/jobseek ... index.html

[wayne1978]

I think I should go to Economic Development Office again and try to find a different person who might have a different view about this matter.

Problem is if I stop studying, my student RP won't be extended and if I remain enrolled, I might not qualify for unemployment/housing benefits. The best solution is to find a job so I can earn enough money to cover the expenses and stay away from this "benefit hunt". Problem is that universities are cutting jobs and finding one is quite difficult right now if not impossible!

[Piet]

I think I should go to Economic Development Office again and try to find a different person who might have a different view about this matter.

Problem is if I stop studying, my student RP won't be extended and if I remain enrolled, I might not qualify for unemployment/housing benefits. The best solution is to find a job so I can earn enough money to cover the expenses and stay away from this "benefit hunt". Problem is that universities are cutting jobs and finding one is quite difficult right now if not impossible!

I think all depends on the time your RP B expires.
You got a RP B on study grounds, so you are only entitled to Kela benefits when studying, however when you study, there is by definition no right to unemployment benefits. (you are technically not available for the job market due to your time needed for study they say..) Dropping out of your study will get your RP B end, this means you have to leave Finland (and your family too).
http://www.migri.fi/working_in_finland/ ... lationship

You might try social office for the remaining time of your study or until you find a Job, they can help you if Kela made a mistake too.. and they can pay you benefits if your family income is too low (using standards for this). In your case, your wife should apply for housing benefits and your family all together make an appointment with social office to see what they can do and maybe grant you "toimeentulotuki". If your wife is not taking care of a child under 3 anymore, she should register at TE office as unemployed to keep getting unemployment benefits.
Beware that Social office wants all your bank slips from the last 3 months and all that come..from the whole family..(you, your wife and kids). They want to know everything from you.

At least this is as far as my limited knowledge goes from the social welfare system in this cold dark but at times so beautiful country.. to be sure... wait for adnan

This situation would be the same if you have a RP A, with that difference that you can get first unemployment benefits and then start a study, this study time can last ( I believe but could be wrong.... ask adnan ) max 2 years without your unemployment benefits (and higher housing benefits) cancelled.