Job Seekers
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How long can I receive Kela unemployment benefits?
The basic unemployment allowance is payable for a maximum period of 400 days. If your employment history is less than three years, the maximum payment period is 300 days. If you are still unemployed when the allowance runs out, you can apply for labor market subsidy. The unemployment allowance is payable for a maximum of 500 days for unemployed people 58 years old and older. Ageing unemployed…
Read MoreCategory: Unemployment Benefits
Source: Kela
How will unemployment affect my taxes?
Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and a preliminary tax of 20% is withheld on them. Even if the unemployment allowance is lower than the wage, the rate of tax may not necessarily be lower. The reason for this is that it is not possible to make the same tax deductions from the allowance as from the salary. You can apply for a revised tax card for social security benefits from Vero (the Tax…
Read MoreCategory: Taxes
Source: Kela
I'm unemployed. What should I do?
We couldn’t find any official list of steps to take once a person becomes unemployed, but here are some suggestions. Register with the TE Office (TE Palvelut) as an unemployed job seeker. Apply for unemployment benefits from Kela. Apply to jobs in your area of expertise. Network as much as you can.
Read MoreCategory: Unemployment
Source: Earner
Didn't you mention Networking?
Yes. Networking, and meeting new people, can make a big difference when unemployed. “You can get a head by who you know”. The same is true in Finland. A few suggestions on getting started is to volunteer at events. A lot of big events will need volunteers. As a volunteer, not only will you get free access to the event, but you will meet new people who could help you get ahead. Another suggestion…
Read MoreCategory: Networking
Source: Earner
Can I start a business while I'm unemployed and receiving Kela benefits?
If you decide to start a business while unemployed, you can still continue to receive unemployment benefit payments for another 4 months. The Kela unemployment benefit is affected by the income from your self-employment, which means the more money you make from your business, the less money you get from Kela. You will need to report your self-employment income in the unemployment status report. To…
Read MoreCategory: Entrepreneurship
Source: Kela
Why should I apply for unemployment benefits?
If you become unemployed you can apply for unemployment benefits from Kela after you have registered as an unemployed job seeker at the TE Office (TE Palvelut). The benefits that can be paid to unemployed persons are: Unemployment allowance (earnings-related unemployment allowance or basic unemployment allowance). Labor market subsidy. If you are a member of an unemployment fund you can apply for…
Read MoreCategory: Unemployment
Source: Kela
Why should I register as an unemployed job seeker?
Registering as an unemployed job seeker is the first step in applying for unemployment benefits. When you become unemployed, you must register at the latest on your first day of unemployment. You can also register later at any time, but you can’t receive unemployment benefits until then. It should be noted that if you lose your job on a Monday and register as an unemployed job seeker on a Friday…
Read MoreCategory: Unemployment
Source: Suomi.fi