Moving to or Away From Finland Brochure

8/10/2019 Moving to or Away From Finland Brochure

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Contents

When you move to Finland and from Finland 1

When you move to Finland 2

Who can get Kela benefits? 2

What is permanent residence? 3

Coming to Finland to work 3

Conditions of Kela benefits 6

Applying for Finnish social security 7Applying for benefits 7

When you move away from Finland 8

Temporary or permanent move? 8

Part of the year in another country 9

Working in an EU country, EEA(European Economic Area) country or Switzerland 10

Moving to a social security agreement country 10

Posted workers 11

Students and researchers 12

Family members 12

Right to Kela benefits outside Finland 13

Notice and application 14

Decision 14

Return to Finland 14

More information 15

Kela at your service 16


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When Kela decides about some typeof benefit, the life situation of eachapplicant is handled individually.The life situations of the applicantsand their need for benets are oftenvery different.For this reason, the amounts ofbenefits and criteria changefrom case to case.

In this brochure, we tell you what theconditions are for Kela benefits when you move to Finland.

The second part of the brochure tells you what happens to your socialsecurity when you move away fromFinland.

Kela pays financial supportin different kinds of life situations.Usually Kela looks after your basicsecurity when other income is small.

For example, Kelas benefits are national pension and other

pension benefits housing allowance benefits when you get ill basic unemployment benefits student benefits benefits intended for families with

children.

You can get information about Kelasbenefits at

www.kela.fi/english

You also get information frombrochures dealing with benefits(see back cover).

The criteria for Kela benefits havebeen set in law.

When you move to and from Finland


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The main rule is that you can getKela benefits if you live in Finlandpermanently.

However, getting benefits is affectedby whether you are moving toFinland from one of the Nordic countries from one of the European Union

(EU) or European Economic Area(EEA) countries, fromSwitzerland or

from a country with whichFinland has a social securityagreement (see page 4).

The EEA countries are those in theEuropean Union as well as Norway,Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Getting benefits is also affectedby whether or not you are movingto Finland as a(n) employee or self-employed person

/ you operate your own business student family member posted worker.

When you move to FinlandWho can get Kela benefits?

Kela benefits are usually obtainedby a person who is covered byFinlands social security system.

Everyone who lives permanently inFinland usually belongs to thissystem.An exception to this are people wholive in Finland but work in anotherEuropean Union country.

People who are covered by Finnishhealth insurance get a Kela card.


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What is permanent residence?

You are resident in Finland if yourmain home and residence are hereand you spend most of your timehere.

You move to Finland permanently in,for example, the following cases: You return to Finland to live. You have a work agreement for at

least 2 years of work in Finland. You are married or in another

type of close family relationshipwith a person who lives in Finlandpermanently.

If you move to Finland temporarily, you do not usually have the right toFinnish social security. For example,a student is in Finland temporarilywhen the only reason s/he is in thecountry is to study.

Coming to Finland to work

From outside the EU, EEA (EuropeanEconomic Area) or Switzerland

Your social security is affected by howlong your work lasts and from whatcountry you move to Finland.

You have the right to Kela benefits if you move to Finland permanently:in other words, you have a workcontract lasting at least 2 years and you meet the other requirementsfor benefits.

If you do not move to Finlandpermanently, you can still be coveredby Finlands social security system onthe basis of your work if your workingtime and salary are enough.

If your work will last at least4 months, you are insured againstillness, for being a parent andunemployment away when you startworking. The requirement is that yourworking time and salary are at leastthe minimum level.

The minimum working time isusually 18 hours a week.

Your salary should be according tocollective agreement, or if it is in afield not affected by collectiveagreement, your salary must be atleast 1 134 euros per month(situation in 2013).


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EU and EEA (European EconomicArea) countries and Switzerland

If you move to Finland for workfrom the area of the European Unionor from an EEA (European EconomicArea) country or Switzerland, even ashort work period usually gives youpartially the right to Finlands socialsecurity system.

Examples: If you come to work for less than

4 months, you may have theright to a child home careallowance and public health care.

If your work should last from4 months to 2 years, you can getchild and sickness benefits, yournational and survivors pensionbuilds up, and you are insuredagainst unemployment.The requirement is that yoursalary and working time are atleast the minimum level.

If your work should last over2 years, the move is regarded aspermanent and you are coveredby the Finnish social securitysystem.

Employees who move from socialsecurity agreement countries

Finland has made social securityagreements with some countries.

These countries are the Nordic countries (Finland,

Sweden, Denmark, Norway andIceland)

the USA, Canada and Quebec Chile Israel Australia India (coming into effect in 2013).

These agreements generally concernpensions and some also concernmedical care.

If you come from any of thesecountries, check from Kela how theseagreements affect your social security.

For more information,telephone:

020 692 227 Monday to Friday

from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


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Posted workers

If your employer sends you to Finlandfrom outside the EU, EEA (EuropeanEconomic Area) or Switzerland, thesame rules that affect other employeesaffect you.

You are covered by the Finnish socialsecurity system when you move toFinland permanently for example, your work period will last at least 2 years. You get sickness insurance if you plan to work in Finland for atleast 4 months and you meet therequirements for your salary andwork period.

If you come as a posted worker fromanother EU or EEA country or fromSwitzerland, you stay covered by thesocial security system of the country you are sent from.You get medically necessarytreatment with a European HealthInsurance Card, which you get fromthe country you are sent from. Youget an official certificate (A1/E101)from your sending country that says your employer has sent you toFinland to work.

If you come as a posted worker froma country that has a social securityagreement with Finland, you get thebenefits referred to in the agreementfrom the country you have left.

The right to other benefits requirespermanent residence in Finland or atleast 4 months of working here.

Social security based on working(employment)If you work in Finland, you are alsocovered by social security based onworking. This is, for example,employment pension andearnings-related unemploymentbenefits as well as benefits foraccidents at work and work-relateddiseases.These are not handled by Kela,however. Private insurancecompanies, unemployment fundsand foundations look after them.


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Family members

When you move to Finland as thefamily member of an employee orstudent, you should live in Finlandpermanently to be covered by theFinnish social security system.

The family members of employeescoming from EU or EEA (EuropeanEconomic Area) countries or fromSwitzerland can get medical care,child benefit and child home carebenefits, even if they do not live inFinland themselves or their stay inFinland is only temporary.

The social security agreementsentered into with some countriescan also affect the social securityof family members.

The family members of postedworkers are usually covered by thesocial security system of the sendingcountry.

Students

If you move to Finland only to study(considered temporarily), you are notcovered by the Finnish social securitysystem.If you have other reasons thanstudying to stay in Finland, such asworking, you can be covered by thesocial security system under certainconditions.

Usually you cannot receive financialaid for students from Finland. If youcome from another country, check your right to financial aid forstudents from Kela.

Conditions connectedwith Kela benefits

Kela usually pays benefits from thedate you are covered by the Finnishsocial security system.

However, some benefits are paid onlyto those who have lived in Finland fora certain period before benefits canbe given.These are, for example, dailyallowances paid on the basis of beinga parent, Kelas unemploymentbenefits, Kelas pensions, and benefitsfor the disabled who are over 16 yearsold.


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In granting some types of benefits,the insurance periods in another EUor EEA country or Switzerland aretaken into account.

You can get, for example, a maternityallowance (financial benefits formothers) when you have been coveredby Finlands social security systemand lived in Finland for at least180 days immediately before theestimated date of birth.The sickness insurance period fromanother EU or EEA country orSwitzerland can also beaccepted in the period of residence inFinland.

Check from Kela when you can get Kelas benefits.




Applying for Finnishsocial security

If you move to Finland permanently, you should apply to be covered by thesocial security system, which islooked after by Kela. You can applyonline via Kelas website www.kela./asiointi (online customer service inFinnish and Swedish), or you can llin an application form which youreturn to a Kela ofce.

Kela will send you a written decision.If coverage is granted you will be senta Kela card your health insurancecard.

Applying for benefits

You can apply for Kela benefitsby filling in separate forms or viaKelas online customer service(www.kela.fi/asiointi).

Online service in Finnish andSwedish.


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When you move from Finland,inform Kela.You must also inform Kela oftemporary stay in another country.

You should also notify Kela aboutchanges in your situation happeningoutside Finland. They may concern,for example, studying or starting/stopping work, or family relations.

When you move from FinlandTemporary or permanent move?

Your right to social securityfrom Finland is usually decidedon the basis of how long you planto stay in another country.

If you plan to be in another countryfor a year at maximum, you willusually stay in the Finnish socialsecurity system.In this case, you will still get the Kelabenefits that are paid to othercountries.These are, for example, child benefits,maternity grant and parental benefits.


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If you move away from Finlandpermanently, you are not usuallycovered by the Finnish social securitysystem.A move is regarded as permanent if itshould last over a year.In this case, your right to Kelabenefits usually ends when you moveaway from Finland.

If you move to another country,find out if you can be covered bythe social security systemof your new country of residence.

Some special groups can stay coveredby the Finnish social security systemeven if they are in another countryfor over a year. They are, for example,students and posted workers. Applyfrom Kela to stay covered by theFinnish social security system.

Civil servants and missionaries/development aid workers who areFinnish nationals are covered byFinnish social security withoutapplication.Their family members have to applyto stay covered by social security.

Part of the year in anothercountry

If you regularly live outside Finlandfor more than half the year, you usually do not have the rightto Finnish social security.

You may, however, continue to keepFinnish social security if your ties to Finland are still strong.When these are evaluated, the periodof your stay in Finland and outsidethe country as well as yourfamily ties, for example, are takeninto account.


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Seamen

Seamen are covered by the socialsecurity of the country under whoseag they work. This is called the agstate principle.

If you work as a seamen on a vesselthat ies the ag of another EU orEEA member country, you are usuallycovered by the social security systemof that country even if you livepermanently in Finland.

Moving to a social securityagreement country

Finland has a social securityagreement with the other Nordiccountries, the USA, Canada, Chile,Israel, Australia, Quebec and India(coming into force in 2013).

These agreements generally concernpensions and some also concernmedical care.

The social security agreementsconcern different matters for differentcountries. Its a good idea to checkbefore you move how the agreementsbetween these countries affect yoursocial security.




Working in an EU country,EEA (European Economic Area)country or Switzerland

If you start working in an EU or EEA(European Economic Area) countryor Switzerland, even a shortemployment period usually transfers you into the social security system ofthe country where you are working.

You are covered by the social securitysystem of the country where you areworking, regardless of the countrywhere you live.

Workers are covered by only onecountrys social security systemat a time.

Therefore, you cannot be covered bythe Finnish social security system atthe same time that you are covered byanother countrys social securitysystem.

Cross-border workers

A cross-border worker is a person whoreturns daily or at least once a weekto his or her permanentcountry of residence.

If you work as a cross-border workerin another EU or EEA country, youare covered by the social security ofthe country where you work even if you do not live there.


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Posted workers

Posted workers are persons thatFinnish employers have sent to workfor their companies inother countries.

Posting outside the EU or EEA(European Economic Area) orSwitzerland or a social securityagreement country

Inform Kela about working inanother country if it lasts more than3 months.If the posting lasts less than one year, you can keep your Finnish socialsecurity.If the posting will last longer than a year, apply for a decision from Kelaabout whether or not you will becovered by the Finnish social securitysystem.The application must be made withina year of the move.

Posting to an EU or EEA countryor to Switzerland

If you are sent as a posted workerto these countries, you are usuallycovered by the Finnish social securitysystem during the entire period you are posted there.

Your employer should apply fora certificate from the Finnish Centrefor Pensions for you.On this basis, Kela will give youa decision on your right to Kelabenefits without a separateapplication.

You can get more informationabout applying for a certificate fromthe Finnish Centre for Pensions(www.etk.fi).

Posting to a social securityagreement country

If you are posted to a country thatFinland has a social securityagreement with, you are usuallycovered by Finnish social securityconcerning, for example,the benefits in the agreement.In this case, a posting can even lastfor over a year.

In these situations, also, youremployer should apply for a certicatefrom the Finnish Centre for Pensionsfor you. Based on this, Kela gives youa decision about your right toKelas benefits without application.


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Students and researchers

You can be covered by Finlandssocial security system even if youstudy in another country for over a year. If your period of studying willlast longer than a year, you shouldapply for a decision from Kela aboutwhether or not you will be covered bythe Finnish social security system.The decision must be applied forwithin a year of the move to anothercountry.

If you work alongside your studies,the rules concerning employees mayaffect you especially if you arestaying in an EU country.

Remember to inform Kela about thework you do in another country.Also find out about the social securityrules of the country you will work in.

Family members

The right to Finnish social security offamily members who are moving toanother country usually depends onhow long the stay abroad will last.If you plan to be in another countryfor a year at maximum, you willusually be covered by the Finnishsocial security system.

If you move as a family member of aposted worker, student, civil servantor person doing missionary/development aid work, you can applyto be covered by the Finnish socialsecurity system.In this case, your stay can even lastfor over a year.

Working in another country can,however, affect whether or not youare covered by Finnish social security.





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Right to Kela benefitsoutside Finland

If you are covered by Finlands socialsecurity system when you are stayingin another country, you can usuallyget the same benefits that you wouldget in Finland.Child benefits and maternity grantsas well as parental benefits, forexample, are also paid to othercountries.

Not all Kela benefits are paid to othercountries, however.

If you belong to the Finnish healthinsurance system, you can apply toKela for a European Health insuranceCard, which is free-of-charge. Withthis card, you can get medicallynecessary treatment in any EU orEEA (European Economic Area)country, or in Switzerland.

You can get a card bytelephoning 020 692 223

Monday to Fridayfrom 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pension payments to other countries

A pensioner moving to anothercountry permanently is paid anational and survivors pension atmost for one year after moving toanother country.

However, if a person moves to an EUor EEA (European Economic Area)country or to Switzerland or to asocial security agreement country,pension payments will usually bepaid for a longer time. Guaranteepension is not paid if you moveabroad on a permanent basis.

You can get more information abouthow employment pensions build upand their payment to other countriesfrom the Finnish Centre for Pensions(www. etk.fi).


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Decision

When Kela has handled yourapplication, you get the decisionsent to your home.The decision tells if you are coveredby Finlands social security systemor not.

Return to Finland

If you have been covered by theFinnish social security system during your stay in another country and youreturn to Finland, report your returnto Kela.

If you have not been covered by theFinnish social security system during your stay in another country, you should apply to Kelato be covered by the system.

Notice and application

You should notify Kela about atemporary or permanent move toanother country.Notification can be made via Kelascustomer service webpageswww.kela./asiointi(in Finnish and Swedish).You can report this also by llingin form Y 39e.The forms are on Kelas website at

www.kela.fi/lomakkeet

You can fill in the form online, printit and send it to any Kela office.

Remember to report your change ofresidence to the local register office,too.

If you are no longer covered by theFinnish social security system, youshould return your Kela card andEuropean Health insurance Cardto Kela.


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By phone

Social security-related matterswhen you move to or away fromFinland (in Finnish):



Swedish-language service number:

(also serves in English) 020 692 227

Monday to Fridayfrom 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Matters connected with financialaid for students if you complete your total degree programme in

another country: 020 634 6630

Monday to Fridayfrom 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Kelas Office for InternationalAffairs serves those living over one year in another country butinsured in Finland and thosepensioners and pension applicantswho are living abroad

Pension-related matters: 020 634 2550 Monday to Friday

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Insurance and benefits:

020 634 2650 Monday to Fridayfrom 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More informationIn connection with processingthe application, Kela may getinformation from the authoritiesboth in Finland and in othercountries.

Do you need an interpreter?

If you need help in communicating oran interpreter, contact Kela or visitthe webpage for additionalinformation at

www.kela./interpretation


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Kela is at your service

Report all changes

If you receive a Kela benet, doremember to inform us quickly ifthere are changes in your situation.These can be, for example, changes in your housing or family situation orchanges in income.

Kela may take benets back

If Kela pays too much in benetsbecause of incorrect information, itmust take the money back from you.

www.kela.fi/takaisinperinta

On the Internet

You can get information aboutKelas benefits at Kelas website:

www.kela.fi/english.

At Kelas online customer service, you can: apply for coverage under the

Finnish social security system apply for Kela benets get information about the

handling of your application send attachments report changes stop getting support.

You can calculate the amountsof benets with an online calculator.

www.kela./asiointi

Online customer service andcalculators are in Finnish andSwedish only.

By phone

Moving to or from Finland 020 692 227

Kelas employees must keep allpersonal matters secret.They are not allowed to speak of matters regarding their clients tooutside persons.

Kelas ofces

Kelas ofces are at your service in allmatters connected with Kela benets.Contact information for Kelas ofcesis at:

www.kela./yhteystiedot

Reserve a time

You can reserve a time at Kelas ofceor by telephone. Reserve a time if thesubject is complicated.Reserve a time at:

www.kela./ajanvaraus

or telephone Kelas service number.


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Kelas services on the InternetYou can handle matters more and more often on the Internet at a time that best

suits you. You can nd Kelas online services at www.kela./english

Kelas online services Calculators you can use to calculate the total amount of bene ts. Application forms for bene ts which you can ll in and print. A question form you can use to ask about Kela bene ts or matters connected

with Kela.

At Kelas Customer Service (www.kela./asiointi), you can ll in application forms and reports check your bene t information, such as whether or not your application has

been handled and when the benet will be paid read letters and decisions Kela has sent to you

change your bank account information.You login to Customer Service with your online banking ID. Service is inFinnish and Swedish. P u

n a M u s t a

O y

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Kelas service numbers(in Swedish and English)

Monday to Friday

from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Conscripts ___________ 020 692 220

Death of a familymember _____________ 020 692 228Disability ____________020 692 231Families with children _ 020 692 226Housing benets ______020 692 221

Kela card, EuropeanHealth Insurance Card _ 020 692 223Moving to or fromFinland ______________ 020 692 227Pensioners __________ 020 692 222Rehabilitation ________ 020 692 225Sickness _____________ 020 692 224Support during

unemployment _______ 020 692 230

Appealing (protesting) a decisionYou can appeal a Kela decision.You get instructions about this withthe decision. If you have any questions,please contact:

Social Security Appeal Board

Telephone 0295 163 800www.somla.

Student Financial Aid Review Board

Telephone 0295 333 000www.opintotuenmuutoksenhaku-lautakunta.

Unemployment Benet Appeal Board

Telephone 0295 16001www.ttlk.


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Home and Family Benefits and housing allowances for families with children

Health and RehabilitationCompensation for illness and daily allowances,

rehabilitation and disability benefits

StudyingFinancial benefits for students and allowances for militaryconscripts

Unemployment Benefits for periods of unemployment

Pensions and Retirement Pension security,housing allowance and care allowance

Moving to or from FinlandHow to get covered by the Finnish social security systemand what happens when you move from Finland to anothercountry

Kelas brochures in Easy English

Brochures in printed and online format www.kela. /muutkieletsuomeksi | pa svenska | in English | Davvisamegiellaeesti keel |P

Documents

Moving to or Away From Finland Brochure