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During the rehabilitation programme, the rehabilitant is paid a rehabilitation allowance. If the rehabilitant receives the cash rehabilitation benefit, i.e. fixed-term disability pension, during the rehabilitation programme, a rehabilitation increase is paid on the cash rehabilitation benefit.
A work trial helps restore your work ability and prevents prolonged sick leave. A work trial can take place with your current or a new employer.
When planning a work trial, it is important to assess whether the work will support your work ability in the long term.
A valid employment relationship or sick leave are not barriers to starting up a work trial in order to find new work for you.
Work trials are planned at the workplace as a co-operative effort between the rehabilitant and the employer. In the case of a work trial in your current work, it is important for occupational health care to be part of the co-operative planning. If the work trial involves new work with a new employer, the rehabilitation partner’s career coach also often joins the process with the rehabilitant and the employer.
When planning a work trial, the following is agreed
If your work trial is with a new employer but your employment relationship with your previous employer is still valid, it is a good idea to inform the employer and occupational health care of your work trial plans.
A work trial can last anywhere from one to six months. Work trials are most often started for two to three months, but they can be extended after a mid-term evaluation if warranted.
The minimum number of hours for a work trial is 20 hours per week. The daily working hours may vary between four and eight hours. The aim is to gradually increase the amount of working hours during the work trial to full-time hours.
We recommend that you postpone any holidays you may have until after your work trial. If you must take a holiday during your work trial, Varma must be notified thereof before the work trial begins. Rehabilitation benefits are not paid for holidays.
Job coaching is learning a new profession by means of on-the-job training. It can be carried out with your current employer or with a new employer. If necessary, job coaching can include customised training. Job coaching often follows a work trial, which helps to determine that the planned job description is suited to your health.
The rehabilitant and the employer and/or rehabilitation partner together draw up a job coaching programme which lays down:
The contents, duration and working hours of job coaching are planned individually. The goal is to achieve a sufficient skill level.
The rehabilitation allowance or cash rehabilitation benefit (and rehabilitation increase) granted as the source of income during an unpaid work trial or job coaching is paid to you. Varma will take out accident insurance for you in case of an occupational accident during your work trial or job coaching period.
In the case of paid work trial or job coaching, the employer will pay your salary and Varma will pay the employer the rehabilitation allowance during your work trial or job coaching period upon application by the employer. The salary that is paid corresponds to full-time work, even if you only work part time. If the rehabilitation allowance exceeds the salary paid by the employer, the difference between the rehabilitation allowance and the salary will be paid to the rehabilitant.
If you have not already completed a rehabilitation plan in connection with your application, fill in the plan when you have one in our online service.
Agree with occupational health care on who will send the occupational health negotiation record to Varma. You can attach a medical statement B if you have one.
Occupational health care can send all the attachments to Varma via secured email:
Varma’s rehabilitation specialist will carefully read through your plan and give you a decision on whether it will be supported. You will receive a separate decision concerning rehabilitation allowance.
Varma’s rehabilitation specialist will send your work trial or job coaching agreement electronically to the contact person at the workplace, e.g. to a supervisor and possibly also to HR.
If a rehabilitation partner is also involved, he/she will send the agreement to the employer.
Work trial or job coaching agreement, unpaid
Work trial or job coaching agreement, paid
If the work trial or job coaching is paid, the employer will pay the employee a full-time salary and apply for the rehabilitation allowance from Varma.
The rehabilitation specialist will send the application to the employer electronically once a positive decision on a paid work trial or job coaching has been issued.
If a rehabilitation partner is also involved, he/she will send the application to the employer.
Employer’s application for rehabilitation benefits
At the end of a work trial and job coaching, the employer and the employee assess its implementation and success and give feedback on it.
If a rehabilitation partner is also involved, he/she will send the feedback questionnaire to the employer.
Employer’s feedback on the rehabilitation
You can send employee’s feedback on the rehabilitation through our online services.
The employer, occupational health care and a possible rehabilitation partner follow up on the planned progress of the work trial or job coaching. The rehabilitant, employer or occupational health care representative may contact Varma if any challenges appear.
If the employment relationship is no longer valid during the job coaching and therefore occupational health care cannot be used, the health care measures will be implemented as part of basic health care.
Occupational safety legislation and the guidelines and regulations laid down on the basis of such legislation apply during the work trial and job coaching period, as in normal employment. The employer and the employee are bound by the rights and obligations of the employment contract, but the nature of the work trial or job coaching should be taken into consideration in the work to be carried out.
The rehabilitant must inform the employer of sickness absences in accordance with the rules of the workplace. In the case of absences lasting longer than one week, Varma must be provided with a sick leave certificate.
Retraining is an option if suitable work tasks cannot be found based on your education and work experience. Sometimes a work trial or job coaching is not enough in the long term. The planned education programme must lead to a vocation that is suited to your state of health. Education is applied for according to the general application practices.
Full-time studies are generally studies that take place in an educational institution, and they include an internship at a workplace.
Multiform studies refer to studying that take place both in an educational institution and as part of independent studies and projects. They also include on-the-job learning. Multiform studies may be supported if the extent of the studies corresponds to full-time studies or if the studies are part of your job coaching programme.
Your income during your studies is the rehabilitation allowance. The allowance is paid for the full calendar year. Summer holidays lasting longer than one month must be used to advance your studies.
Submit a notification of vocational training or the start of an apprenticeship immediately when your studies begin and at the start of each school term, in August/September and in January. You can submit the form at the earliest on the day your studies begin. In addition to the rehabilitation allowance, you will be compensated for the cost of your study supplies and your commuting costs. The cost of study supplies is paid twice a year, at the beginning of each school term, once we have received your notification of studies.
Working alongside your studies is possible. Your work must not, however, interfere with your studies, and your earnings must remain within the earnings limits. You can see your personal earnings limit in our online service.
The progress of your studies is followed up on each term based on your transcript. Your studies must be full time, and they must advance in line with your study plan. Vocational studies are full time if they equal at least 4.5 competence points/study month. Studies in higher education institutions are full time if they equal at least 5 credits/study month.
Varma’s rehabilitation partners may help in following up on your studies.
There are many vocational rehabilitation options for a self-employed person whose work ability has weakened and is impeding their entrepreneurial activities. During the rehabilitation programme, the self-employed person is paid a rehabilitation allowance.
If you need help in drawing up a plan for returning to work, Varma can offer you the coaching service of a rehabilitation partner. You can think about work tasks that are suited to your state of health together with your personal coach.
After a long period of sick leave, we can support your return to work in the same entrepreneurial activities as before by means of a work trial for the self-employed. The objective of a work trial is a soft return to work. Daily working hours can vary between 4–8 hours and can be increased gradually during the trial work. A work trial usually lasts from three to six months. We can support a work trial for a self-employed person also in cases where the person’s entrepreneurial activities are just beginning.
Agreement on rehabilitation at the workplace for a self-employed person
Job coaching can be used to start a new business or to develop an existing business. The contents and duration of the coaching are agreed on individually, and it generally consists of on-the-job learning and further education.
A business subsidy can be granted for the purpose of establishing a company or for changing entrepreneurial activities. The subsidy can be used, for instance, to purchase aids to help you perform your work or to acquire new tools. The support is based on a needs assessment, and it must be accompanied by other forms of financing.
In some situations, an apprenticeship for entrepreneurs, for instance, can give you the opportunity to develop your entrepreneurial activities to suit your health. If you cannot continue performing your entrepreneurial activities for health-related reasons, you may be able to find a new profession through retraining. You can find out what your options are with the help of our rehabilitation partner.
YEL insurance must be taken out right from the start of entrepreneurial activities.
In our online service, you can, for instance
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We will use the feedback we receive to develop our services. Please note, however, that we do not respond to messages sent using this form. If you have a matter related to your customer account, you can take care of it in the Varma Online Service or by contacting our customer service 010 192 100.