Social assistance
You can apply for supplementary and preventive social assistance from the municipality by way of the Omapalvelu service.
Kela assumed responsibility for basic social assistance as of 1 January 2017. Further information available at:
As from 1 January 2017, basic social assistance has been a benefit granted by Kela. Municipalities continue to grant supplementary and preventive social assistance.
In order to apply for supplementary and preventive social assistance, Kela must have granted a decision on basic social assistance.
Social assistance is meant to be a temporary form of assistance and it is a last-resort financial assistance by nature. Therefore, the applicant must provide details of not being able to earn a living from gainful employment, self-employment or other types of income or assets.