Earnings-related allowance and sickness periods
You can apply for earnings-related allowance in accordance with your normal application period. Report any sickness periods in your application. If your sickness period is more than Kela’s sickness allowance waiting period, we recommend that you also apply for Kela sickness allowance.
Sickness allowance and earnings-related allowance are not paid for the same period. But you may be entitled to earnings-related allowance during the waiting period for Kela sickness allowance.
Yes, you need to report sickness periods in your earnings-related allowance application. This applies to sickness periods both with and without payment of wages.
If you have been paid wages during a period of sickness, mark "Sick" on the application and add the paid sick hours in the working hours section in the same way as for working hours.
If you get or have applied for another benefit for a sickness period, e.g. Kela sickness allowance, remember to report this in the section “Benefits” in the application. Send the benefit decision to the Fund when you get it.
We need Kela's decision so we can check how long you're entitled to earnings-related allowance.
You cannot get earnings-related allowance and Kela sickness allowance for the same period. However, you may be entitled to earnings-related allowance for the sickness allowance waiting period.
If you are paid wages for a sickness period, your employer can claim sickness allowance from Kela for the period exceeding the waiting period.
Yes, you can apply for earnings-related allowance after your Kela sickness allowance days have been used up, if you are still unable to work.
Payment of earnings-related allowance always requires that:
- you have registered as an unemployed jobseeker with the employment authority
- you meet the general requirements for earnings-related allowance
If you are still employed, we also need:
- a certificate from your employer that there is no work available that matches your work ability
- information that your disability pension application is pending or has been rejected
- a valid medical certificate
You can read about the general conditions for getting earnings-related allowance here.
You can read about work incapacy and earnings-related unemployment allowance here.