The general social security benefit for the unemployed paid by Kela was adopted on 1 May 2026. Other income may reduce the amount of the general social security benefit. Partial old-age pension is one of the types of income taken into account in the general social security benefit. However, according to the transitional provision now approved, partial early old-age pension is not taken into account as income if the pension decision concerning it was issued before 1 May 2026.
The general social security benefit does not affect the amount of partial old-age pension.
The legislative amendment is more extensive than prepared
The legislative amendment is more extensive than the transitional provision originally prepared. It was intended to apply to those who had received a decision on partial old-age pension before 16 January 2026. Parliament extended the provision to apply to pension decisions issued before 1 May 2026.
The amendment secures the livelihoods of those who decided to retire on partial old-age pension before they knew how the amount of the general social security benefit would affect their benefits.
The amendment will be applied from the introduction of the general social security benefit, i.e. from 1 May 2026. If an early old-age pension granted before this date has reduced your general social security benefit, Kela will pay the missing benefit retroactively. You do not need to contact Kela yourself.
Also, early old-age pension granted before 1 May 2026 will not reduce the general social security benefit in the future.
Partial old-age pension granted on or after 1 May 2026 may reduce the general social security benefit
If the decision on partial old-age pension was made on or after 1 May 2026, the pension is taken into account as income. In this case, the pension may reduce the amount of the general social security benefit.
If you receive general social security benefit and are considering partial old-age pension, please estimate the amount of your pension in Varma Online Service. This way, you can find out in advance whether your pension amount exceeds the income limit for the general social security benefit (EUR 311/month).
Partial old-age pension cannot be terminated or suspended after it has begun, but the pension decision can be revoked within three months of the decision being issued. Partial old-age pension taken before your lowest old-age pension age permanently reduces the old-age pension paid later.
Further information:
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health press release (in Finnish)
Kela press release
Finnish Centre for Pensions news release
How the amendment affects
- Your pension decision was issued before 1 May 2026: your partial old-age pension does not reduce the general social security benefit paid by Kela.
- Your pension decision was issued on or after 1 May 2026: your partial old-age pension may reduce the general social security benefit paid by Kela.
In neither situation does the general social security benefit affect the amount of your partial old-age pension.
If you receive general support in addition to partial old-age pension and want to know more about whether partial old-age pension affects the amount of your general social security benefit, please contact Kela.