Partial old-age pensions granted before 1 May 2026 will not reduce the general social security benefit
Finnish Parliament has approved a transitional provision under which partial old-age pensions will not be considered in the means testing for the general social security benefit if the pension decision was issued before 1 May 2026. Parliament broadened the transitional provision beyond what the Government had originally proposed.
Under the amendment now approved, Kela will not consider a partial pension as income in the means testing for the general social security benefit if the pension decision was issued before 1 May 2026. The legislation is applied in retrospect from the start of the general social security benefit, that is from 1 May 2026 onward. The general social security benefit is an unemployment benefit paid by Kela.
Parliament broadened the bill during its consideration. Under the Government bill, the transitional provision would have applied to persons who had received a partial old-age pension before 16 January 2026.
The transitional provision aims to protect the income of unemployed people who decided to claim a partial old-age pension without knowing that it could reduce their general social security benefit.
If the decision on the partial old-age pension was granted on or after 1 May 2026, the partial old-age pension is considered income in the means testing for the general social security benefit. In that case, the partial old-age pension may reduce the amount of the general social security benefit.
Keep this in mind before you apply for a partial old-age pension
Before you apply for a partial old-age pension, find out how it affects your own economy and other benefits you have been granted.
You cannot cancel or suspend a partial old-age pension. Your partial old-age pension continues until you retire on a full old-age pension or are granted a disability pension. However, you can cancel the partial old-age pension within three months from the date you were granted the benefit.
If you were born in 1964 you are particularly likely to be considering taking a partial old-age pension, as you have reached the qualifying age of 62 years this year.
The partial old-age pension affects your other benefits
- It reduces your old-age pension if you took out the partial old-age pension before you reached your retirement age.
- It reduces your national pension if you are receiving one. Your national pension is calculated based on the amount of earnings-related pension that you would have received had you not taken a partial old-age pension.
- It reduces your general social security benefit if the income that is considered in the means testing exceed the income limit. This does not apply if you received your decision on the partial old-age pension before 1 May 2026.
Your partial old-age pension does not affect the amount of your earnings-related unemployment allowance.
Find out how your partial old-age pension affects your taxation or other benefits you receive, for example, the housing allowance.
More information
Information on the general social security benefit (Kela.fi)
Read more about the partial old-age pension
