Information bank and compiled information

If your family has no food and cannot wait, ask Kela to assess urgent social assistance: 020 634 2550 for English service, weekdays 9–16. Outside Kela’s opening hours, contact your area’s emergency social services. You can also look for food aid open today.

Explain that there are children in the family, what is missing and when help is needed. Emergency social services assess essential help; contacting them does not guarantee money. Helsinki’s emergency social services do not pay bills or give cash. Food distribution times, conditions and supplies vary.

Your next steps

1. Contact the appropriate urgent service below. Do not wait for a routine decision if a child has no food now.
2. Search Ruoka-apu.fi by location and today’s date.
3. Apply for basic social assistance if needed. Ask for help if the form is a barrier.

Good to know

• Urgency and assistance are assessed individually. Food or money on the same day cannot be guaranteed.
• Calls to Kela are charged according to your phone plan; the line is closed at weekends.

Contacts in your area

• Helsinki

  Helsinki emergency social services, 24/7. No cash or bill payments; use regular services during office hours when the situation can wait.

  020 696 006Helsingfors – Sosiaalipäivystys FI
• Espoo / Kauniainen

  Western Uusimaa social and crisis emergency services. Urgent social matters outside office hours; crisis support 24/7.

  029 151 2221Västra Nyland – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI
• Vantaa

  Vantaa and Kerava social and crisis emergency services. Urgent social matters outside office hours; crisis support 24/7.

  09 4191 5800Vanda och Kervo – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI
• Sipoo

  Eastern Uusimaa social and crisis emergency services, 24/7.

  019 5600 150Östra Nyland – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Handläggningstid för utkomststöd SV
• Ruoka-apu.fi – För dig som söker mathjälp SV
• Kela · customer service in English EN

More in the resource bank

Ruoka-apu.fi lists food distribution and community meals in different locations. You can search without creating an account. Check the price, time and participation conditions for the event you choose.

The service does not organise the events and may not list every local option. Some food is free; some meals have a small charge. Ask the organiser about any special dietary needs before travelling.

Your next steps

1. Choose your location and date in the search service.
2. Read the event instructions: is registration, a document or your own container needed?
3. Contact the event organiser if anything is unclear.

Good to know

• Each organiser sets its conditions. A listing does not confirm that food is still available.

Sources and contact routes

• Ruoka-apu.fi – För dig som söker mathjälp SV

More in the resource bank

Hope accepts requests from families with children experiencing financial difficulties. Help depends on donated items, so a particular size or item cannot be guaranteed. Koivukylä in Vantaa also offers free reused children’s clothes and equipment by appointment.

Tell the local Hope team what your child needs and the sizes. Hope says a reply can take around a month, so it is not a reliable same-day option. Ask separately about toiletries.

Your next steps

1. Find your local Hope team and its application instructions.
2. In Vantaa, check how to book Koivukylä’s reuse service.
3. Contact social advice if essential items are needed urgently.

Good to know

• Hope’s conditions include a child under 18 and coverage by the Finnish social security system.
• The reviewed Hope instructions ask families to describe their needs without income certificates. Available items and sizes vary.

Sources and contact routes

• Hope ry – Tarvitsen apua FI
• Vanda – Avoin kohtaamispaikka Koivukylä FI

More in the resource bank

Start with benefits relevant to your situation: child benefit, parental allowances or childcare allowances, housing support, and support during unemployment or illness. Separation or a child’s disability may make other benefits relevant. This checklist suggests what to investigate; it does not establish entitlement.

Kela’s families section helps you find the relevant guidance. Family circumstances, the child’s age, childcare, housing and income affect different benefits differently. Basic social assistance is a last-resort benefit for essential expenses. The general social security benefit and general housing allowance have a combined online application, but separate eligibility rules.

Your next steps

1. Review your circumstances on Kela’s families page.
2. Check housing allowance and any unemployment benefit separately.
3. Ask Kela which applications and change notifications you need.

Good to know

• There is no single application that automatically covers all family benefits.
• Living in Finland or having a particular income does not alone establish entitlement to every benefit.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Barnfamiljer SV
• FPA – Allmänt bostadsbidrag SV
• FPA – Allmänt stöd SV
• FPA – Kundservice för privatpersoner SV

More in the resource bank

Basic social assistance may be relevant if your family’s available income and assets do not cover essential expenses. Apply first for other benefits relevant to your situation. Kela assesses your household’s circumstances and accepted expenses.

Apply in OmaKela or using a paper application. If neither works, you can apply verbally through Kela’s customer service. Provide the requested documents and explain anything missing. Even a negative Kela decision may be needed when social services assess supplementary assistance.

Your next steps

1. Read Kela’s application guidance and check other benefits first.
2. Apply for the correct period with the requested documents.
3. Check that your application arrived and respond to requests for more information.

Good to know

• Family circumstances are assessed under social assistance rules; adult children normally apply separately.
• Routine processing does not guarantee same-day help.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Utkomststöd SV
• FPA – Utkomststöd: så här ansöker du SV
• FPA – Ansök först om andra förmåner SV

More in the resource bank

Kela handles basic social assistance. Supplementary and preventive social assistance are assessed by your wellbeing services county, or Helsinki City for Helsinki residents. They are not automatic additions to a Kela decision.

Basic assistance covers essential everyday expenses. Supplementary assistance may address special needs, while preventive assistance can help prevent a social or financial crisis from worsening. Usually start with Kela and ask for relevant parts of your application to be transferred to social services. In urgent cases, preventive assistance may exceptionally be assessed without a prior Kela application.

Your next steps

1. Apply to Kela for ordinary essential expenses.
2. Describe any special expenses and ask about transfer to social services.
3. Contact local social services directly if you already have a Kela decision or an urgent special need.

Good to know

• The expense and your family’s circumstances determine who assesses the request.
• A refusal from Kela does not automatically entitle you to assistance from social services.

Sources and contact routes

• STM – Toimeentulotuki FI
• FPA – För vilka utgifter kan du få utkomststöd? SV

More in the resource bank

Call Kela’s English service on 020 634 2550, weekdays 9–16, or visit an open service point and ask for an urgent assessment. If Kela considers the need urgent, it issues a decision on the same or next working day. This does not mean money will reach your account then.

Apply beforehand if possible, but do not let difficulties with online forms stop you contacting Kela. Urgent assistance is usually a voucher for food or medicines; the rest of the application may follow normal processing. Outside Kela’s hours, contact emergency social services for a social need that cannot wait. For urgent medical advice call 116117, or 112 for immediate danger.

Your next steps

1. Explain what is missing and why it cannot wait.
2. Ask how to receive and use any voucher granted.
3. Follow up the remaining application as well.

Good to know

• Kela assesses urgency. A quick decision does not guarantee a same-day bank payment.
• Emergency social services do not replace medical assessment or guarantee payment for medicines.

Contacts in your area

• Helsinki

  Helsinki emergency social services, 24/7. No cash or bill payments; use regular services during office hours when the situation can wait.

  020 696 006Helsingfors – Sosiaalipäivystys FI
• Espoo / Kauniainen

  Western Uusimaa social and crisis emergency services. Urgent social matters outside office hours; crisis support 24/7.

  029 151 2221Västra Nyland – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI
• Vantaa

  Vantaa and Kerava social and crisis emergency services. Urgent social matters outside office hours; crisis support 24/7.

  09 4191 5800Vanda och Kervo – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI
• Sipoo

  Eastern Uusimaa social and crisis emergency services, 24/7.

  019 5600 150Östra Nyland – Sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys FI

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Handläggningstid för utkomststöd SV
• FPA – Ring FPA SV
• Psykporten/Mielenterveystalo – SOS, mistä apua heti? FI
• Kela · customer service in English EN

More in the resource bank

Having a job does not by itself rule out means-tested benefits. It may be worth checking housing allowance, income-based fees and, as a last resort, social assistance. Depending on the benefit, the assessment considers the relevant family or household finances.

Compare your current income with the information the authority holds. Explain variable working hours and income, and provide the documents requested. Use Kela’s own calculators and instructions; another family’s benefit amount does not show what you will receive.

Your next steps

1. Check general housing allowance with Kela.
2. Update income information used for early childhood education fees.
3. If essential costs remain uncovered, ask Kela about social assistance.

Good to know

• Different benefits treat income and assets differently.
• The general €150 earned-income deduction for adults’ ordinary wages no longer applies to social assistance. Specific exceptions should not be generalised.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Inkomster och tillgångar inverkar på utkomststödet SV
• FPA – Allmänt bostadsbidrag SV
• Undervisnings- och kulturministeriet – Varhaiskasvatusmaksut FI

More in the resource bank

First check whether your housing allowance uses the correct household and current income information. If essential housing costs are still not covered, basic social assistance may be relevant. Kela does not automatically cover the whole rent.

Housing advice can help you explore options before debt grows. Social assistance has accepted housing-cost limits based on municipality and family size. Special circumstances may need separate assessment: rent above the limit does not automatically mean refusal or full reimbursement.

Your next steps

1. Check housing allowance and report household changes.
2. Provide rent and essential housing-cost details when applying for social assistance.
3. Contact housing advice or family social advice if your budget is not sustainable.

Good to know

• Assessment depends on income, assets, family circumstances and accepted expenses.
• A housing-cost limit for a single person is not the limit for a family with children.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Allmänt bostadsbidrag SV
• FPA – Toimeentulotuen asumismenot muuttuvat vuonna 2027 – tarkista, vaikuttaako se sinun tukeesi FI
• FPA – Toimeentulotuen asumismenojen enimmäismäärät muuttuvat vuonna 2027 lainmuutoksen seurauksena FI

More in the resource bank

Contact your landlord and housing advice as soon as you cannot pay rent. Say clearly if there is already a termination, cancellation or eviction process. Social services can assess whether preventive help is needed to secure the family’s housing.

A payment plan, benefit application or advice appointment does not automatically stop an ongoing process. Keep all letters and check their deadlines. If your family has no safe accommodation now, contact emergency social services.

Your next steps

1. Ask your landlord for an up-to-date debt breakdown and a possible payment plan.
2. Show letters and deadlines to housing or social advice.
3. Ask which assistance can be considered and how your housing can be secured while waiting.

Good to know

• Payment plans and assistance for rent arrears are assessed individually.
• An application does not prove the rent has been paid or another process paused.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Asumisneuvonta FI
• Vanda – Asumisneuvonta FI
• STM – Toimeentulotuki FI

More in the resource bank

Ask the bill issuer for more time or a payment plan before costs increase. Also check whether the expense can be covered by basic social assistance. Not every bill or reminder fee is automatically covered.

Kela can accept reasonable household electricity costs in addition to municipal housing-cost limits. The original due date matters for the application, not a later reminder date. If you have a disconnection notice, show it to social advice and explain the impact on your children. An application alone does not stop disconnection.

Your next steps

1. Ask for a debt breakdown and possible payment arrangements.
2. Send Kela the full original bill if you apply for help with it.
3. Contact social advice if there is a disconnection warning or another serious consequence.

Good to know

• Kela assesses necessity, reasonable costs and the relevant assistance period.
• Legal disconnection protections depend on the circumstances; do not assume a general protected period.

Sources and contact routes

• KKV – Perintä ja maksujärjestelyt FI
• FPA – För vilka utgifter kan du få utkomststöd? SV

More in the resource bank

Public financial and debt counselling is free and confidential. You can contact it before debts become large. Advisers help you understand the situation and possible solutions, but do not pay your debts.

Start with letters whose deadlines are closest. An adviser can help you build a complete picture of income, expenses and debts. Taking out a loan is not a condition of receiving advice, and no particular debt solution can be promised beforehand.

Your next steps

1. Choose a contact route on the National Legal Services Authority’s financial and debt counselling page.
2. Gather debt and collection letters and an overview of income and essential expenses.
3. Also contact the creditor if a deadline comes before your advice appointment.

Good to know

• Advice is not a debt adjustment decision or a guarantee of a payment plan.
• An incorrect bill needs to be disputed properly; do not simply ignore it.

Sources and contact routes

• Rättstjänstverket – Talous- ja velkaneuvonta: henkilökohtainen neuvonta FI
• KKV – Perintä ja maksujärjestelyt FI

More in the resource bank

Takuusäätiö’s Velkalinja helpline and Kysy rahasta chat offer free, anonymous advice about money and debt. You do not need to take a loan or already know the solution. You can simply explain that your budget does not cover everyday costs.

Call Velkalinja on 0800 9 8009, Monday–Thursday 10–14. The chat is on the same service page. Advisers do not make benefit decisions or see your Kela records. Public financial and debt counselling is another option for a fuller review.

Your next steps

1. Write down income, essential expenses and your most urgent concern.
2. Call or use the chat during its opening hours.
3. Ask which next step would help: budgeting, a benefit application or public debt counselling.

Good to know

• The helpline and chat are free. Swedish or English service has not been confirmed for these channels.
• These services do not offer personal email advice or callbacks.

Velkalinja: 0800 9 8009. Free, Monday–Thursday 10:00–14:00. Check exceptions with Takuusäätiö; English-language service has not been confirmed.

Sources and contact routes

• Takuusäätiö – Velkalinja ja Kysy rahasta -chat FI
• Rättstjänstverket – Talous- ja velkaneuvonta: henkilökohtainen neuvonta FI

More in the resource bank

Municipal early childhood education fees depend on factors including family income, family size and agreed care hours. Low income may mean no fee is charged. If income has fallen, submit updated income details and ask the municipality to review the fee. Ask separately how to handle a bill that has already arrived.

A separate reduction application may also be needed. In Espoo, update income in eVaka first, then apply in writing for a reduction or waiver if necessary. The city considers circumstances such as basic social assistance and unexpectedly reduced ability to pay. Follow your own municipality’s instructions.

Your next steps

1. Check the income, family size and care hours used in the decision.
2. Submit updated income information to the municipal fee unit.
3. Ask whether a separate reduction application is needed and how to handle the current bill.

Good to know

• Municipal fee rules are not a general price list for private daycare.
• Espoo’s process also covers the service voucher’s customer contribution under city conditions. Check Vantaa, Sipoo and Kauniainen procedures separately.

Sources and contact routes

• Undervisnings- och kulturministeriet – Varhaiskasvatusmaksut FI
• Esbo – Varhaiskasvatuksen asiakasmaksun ja palvelusetelin omavastuuosuuden huojentaminen FI
• Helsingfors – Varhaiskasvatusmaksut FI

More in the resource bank

In Helsinki, fees may be halved or waived following an income assessment. Apply separately for each child and each school year. Other municipalities have their own conditions and procedures.

You can apply after activities start. An autumn application can cover the whole school year; a spring application covers only the spring term. Applying does not pause billing. Ask the bill issuer for more time if needed.

Your next steps

1. Open Helsinki’s fee instructions for the 2026–2027 school year.
2. Apply with the requested family and child information and documents.
3. Contact the bill issuer if payment is due before the decision arrives.

Good to know

• These rules cover afternoon activities within Helsinki’s system, not every municipality or private club.
• The autumn application deadline is 31 December 2026; the spring deadline is 31 May 2027.
• A paper application is also available.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Iltapäivätoiminnan maksut FI

More in the resource bank

Pupils in Helsinki City’s comprehensive schools may qualify for a school ticket or special transport. For the assigned local school, the distance is at least two kilometres in grades 1–6 and over three kilometres in grades 7–9. Apply in Wilma using a browser or on paper.

Distance is not the only consideration. If a child cannot travel independently by public transport, special transport may be assessed using an expert statement. Private and state schools handle their own school travel arrangements.

Your next steps

1. Check the school, grade and address covered by the application.
2. Use Wilma in a browser, not the mobile app, for the travel application.
3. Ask the school office for a paper form or instructions on an expert statement.

Good to know

• These rules cover Helsinki City’s comprehensive schools, not distance rules in other municipalities.
• City guidance covers one officially registered address in Helsinki, not automatically both homes in shared residence.
• Check separate conditions for a school other than the assigned local school.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Koulupäivä ja käytännön asiat FI

An excursion or school camp included in the comprehensive school’s annual plan and held during school time must be free for pupils. Family fundraising contributions must be voluntary. A child’s participation in teaching must not depend on payment.

First ask whether it is a school activity or a separate event organised by parents. Providing a free alternative does not by itself make a charge for a school activity lawful. Discuss this privately with the teacher or headteacher rather than sharing finances in the class group chat.

Your next steps

1. Ask whether the activity is part of the school’s annual plan and teaching time.
2. Ask how every child can participate regardless of family contributions.
3. Refer to the Finnish National Agency for Education’s school camp fee guidance if needed.

Good to know

• This applies to basic education, not all leisure activities or private trips arranged by parents’ associations.

Sources and contact routes

• Utbildningsstyrelsen – Leirikoulusta perittävät maksut perusopetuslain mukaisessa opetuksessa FI
• Helsingfors – Koulupäivä ja käytännön asiat FI

Helsinki offers free playground clubs for children aged 2–4 who are cared for at home. Kauniainen has open family activities where a child attends with an adult. Check whether a child attends independently or with their parent or carer.

Helsinki’s clubs require an application and an available place. Activities are in Finnish. Kauniainen’s open activities do not require registration, but the accompanying adult is responsible for the child. Open activities are not a booked childcare place.

Your next steps

1. For Helsinki, check age and residence conditions and apply through Edlevo.
2. For Kauniainen, find the session suitable for your child’s age.
3. Ask about language and adaptations before attending if needed.

Good to know

• Helsinki clubs are for home-cared Helsinki children aged 2–4. Home care allowance can be combined with the club, but private daycare allowance cannot under the club guidance.
• Kauniainen’s free activities require an accompanying adult. Availability of individual club places has not been confirmed.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Leikkipuistojen kerhot FI
• Grankulla – Avoin perhetoiminta ja lapsen kotihoito FI

More in the resource bank

Hope and local Save the Children associations may support hobbies under their own conditions and available funding. Hope’s hobby support is for children aged 6–17. Start by checking whether applications are open in your area.

Support is not automatic and may not cover costs already paid. Do not commit to a paid activity assuming funding will follow. At the review date, Espoo Save the Children is not accepting new hobby-support applications.

Your next steps

1. Check the local organisation’s instructions and whether applications are open.
2. Ask which costs qualify and whether you need a decision before signing up.
3. Look for free activities while waiting.

Good to know

• Age, residence, family circumstances and available funds affect eligibility.
• One local association’s rules do not automatically apply elsewhere.

Sources and contact routes

• Hope ry – Tarvitsen apua FI
• Rädda Barnen – Hobbystöd SV
• Espoon Pelastakaa Lapset – Hae tukea lapselle FI

More in the resource bank

Municipal clubs are a good starting point. In Espoo, WAU clubs offer exercise for primary-school children and JUMPPI for ages 13–20. Kauniainen’s Granimalli offers free hobbies for pupils in grades 1–9 at the city’s schools.

WAU requires registration, but children need not attend the school hosting the club. JUMPPI does not require term-long registration and provides the necessary equipment. Granimalli places and schedules vary, and activities do not run during school holidays.

Your next steps

1. Choose an activity matching your child’s age and municipality.
2. Check current times, available places and registration instructions.
3. Ask about language, accessibility and equipment if needed.

Good to know

• Free admission does not guarantee an available place or transport.
• JUMPPI serves ages 13–20, including young adults.

Sources and contact routes

• Esbo – Lasten ja nuorten liikunta FI
• Grankulla – Granimalli FI

More in the resource bank

Some hobby equipment can be borrowed from Helmet libraries. Selection and availability vary by library. Jaatinen also lends adapted equipment and games under its own borrowing conditions.

Helmet covers Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, not Sipoo’s library. Check availability and loan periods before travelling. Member families can borrow certain Jaatinen items free of charge; membership and charges for other borrowers need checking separately.

Your next steps

1. Search the library catalogue or Jaatinen’s equipment list.
2. Check the collection point, availability, library-card or membership requirements and return date.
3. Ask whether the equipment suits your needs and whether fees apply.

Good to know

• Not all items are available at every location.
• Not every Jaatinen loan is free for every borrower.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Kirjastot Helsingissä FI
• Jaatinen – Jaatisen toimintavälineet FI

More in the resource bank

Library events and Children’s Town at Helsinki City Museum are good starting points. Children’s Town has free admission and children attend with an adult. Check the price, age guidance and registration rules for each library event.

Free entry does not mean transport or meals are included. Programmes and opening hours change. Ask about accessibility and the event’s language when these matter to your family.

Your next steps

1. Choose a destination and check the programme or opening hours for your chosen day.
2. Check registration, age guidance and whether an adult must attend.
3. Plan transport and food in advance.

Good to know

• A library website’s language does not guarantee an event’s language.
• Discount or culture cards have their own local eligibility rules.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors stadsmuseum – Lasten kaupunki FI
• Helsingfors – Kirjastot Helsingissä FI

More in the resource bank

Ask Kela about the single-parent supplement to child benefit and, if relevant, child maintenance allowance. Joint custody alone does not prevent the supplement, but marriage, cohabitation and living arrangements after separation matter.

A child welfare officer can confirm a maintenance agreement. Kela’s child maintenance allowance has separate eligibility conditions; it does not automatically replace every low or missing private payment.

Your next steps

1. Tell Kela about changes to family and living arrangements.
2. Check whether the child-benefit recipient can claim the single-parent supplement.
3. Contact the child welfare officer about a maintenance agreement, then check Kela’s maintenance allowance.

Good to know

• Joint custody is separate from the supplement’s marriage and cohabitation conditions.
• Child benefit normally covers children under 17; child maintenance allowance covers children under 18 under its own rules.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Barnbidrag SV
• FPA – Underhållsstöd SV
• FPA – Separation SV

More in the resource bank

Check Kela’s disability allowance for children and ask family services to assess practical help at home. A diagnosis alone does not determine entitlement. Kela considers how much more care, attention and support the child needs than children of the same age.

The need must last at least six months. A medical statement and description of daily life may be required. A parent’s possible special care allowance is a separate benefit. Social services can separately assess help such as home services.

Your next steps

1. Read Kela’s current instructions for your child’s age and circumstances.
2. Describe everyday support needs and request the required medical statement.
3. Contact social advice for families with children if practical help is also needed.

Good to know

• At the review date, 20 September 2026, the children’s allowance is for those under 16. See the notice about the 2027 change.
• A diagnosis, expenses or a single certificate do not guarantee a benefit or service.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Handikappbidrag för barn SV
• FPA – Usean nuorille maksettavan Kelan tuen alaikäraja nousee FI
• FPA – Barnfamiljer SV

More in the resource bank

Kela provides service in Finnish, Swedish and English. If you cannot manage the matter in these languages, Kela can assess whether an interpreter is needed. Interpretation arranged by Kela is free for the customer.

Ask for language support when first making contact. An English website does not guarantee an English form or service throughout. OmaKela operates in Finnish and Swedish. Local advice for families with children can help with children’s everyday needs and local services.

Your next steps

1. Choose the relevant Kela service number and state your language needs.
2. Ask Kela to arrange necessary interpretation; an interpreter you hire yourself is not automatically paid for.
3. Use local family-service advice for matters outside Kela’s remit.

Good to know

• Kela assesses the need for interpretation. A minor should not act as the relative interpreter described in Kela’s guidance.
• Language support does not automatically establish benefit entitlement; international circumstances are assessed separately.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Behöver du tolk? SV
• FPA – Ring FPA SV
• Vanda och Kervo – Lapsiperheiden neuvonta ja ohjaus FI
• Kela · customer service in English EN

More in the resource bank

Register as a jobseeker by your first day of unemployment. Apply separately for unemployment benefits from your unemployment fund or Kela, depending on your situation. Registering as a jobseeker does not submit a benefit application.

Also review housing benefits and income-based family fees. If essentials are unaffordable while other benefits are assessed, ask Kela about social assistance. Follow employment services’ messages. Kela has a joint online application for general social security benefit and general housing allowance, but assesses their conditions separately.

Your next steps

1. Follow Kela’s link to Job Market Finland to register as a jobseeker.
2. Check whether your unemployment fund or Kela is responsible and submit the appropriate application.
3. Update income details for housing allowance and early childhood education where necessary.
4. Tell Kela or social advice if your basic needs are urgent.

Good to know

• Earnings-related allowance from a fund and Kela’s general social security benefit are different benefits.
• Lower income does not always mean higher benefits; household circumstances, assets and other conditions matter.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Om du blir arbetslös SV
• FPA – Allmänt stöd SV
• Esbo – Varhaiskasvatuksen asiakasmaksut FI

More in the resource bank

Contact advice or social services for families with children and explain what is not working at home. You do not need to know the service’s name. Home services, family work or other guidance may be possible after an assessment.

Explain, for example, if illness, separation or exhaustion makes caring for your child difficult. Ask for a concrete next step. Not all help at home is free: ask about fees and possible reductions before services start. Call 112 in immediate danger.

Your next steps

1. Find your local family-service advice through the related question below.
2. Describe the everyday help you need and how urgent it is.
3. Ask about the next contact, costs and help while needs are assessed.

Good to know

• Needs, the type of service and its start date are assessed individually.
• Contacting advice is not confirmation of an approved home service.

Sources and contact routes

• Psykporten/Mielenterveystalo – Perhepalvelut tukena mielenterveysongelmissa FI
• Helsingfors – Lapsiperheiden sosiaalineuvonta FI
• Västra Nyland – Sosiaalipalvelujen neuvonta lapsiperheille FI

More in the resource bank

Open family meeting places offer company and can be a first route to support. Kauniainen has free open family activities without registration. Koivukylä’s open meeting place in Vantaa also offers family activities and guidance.

Choose an age-appropriate activity and check whether an adult must attend. In open family activities, the accompanying adult normally remains responsible for their child; this is not a childcare place. A meeting place does not replace healthcare when needed.

Your next steps

1. Check the current programme and age group.
2. Ask about language, accessibility and registration.
3. Tell staff if you would also like help finding family services.

Good to know

• Kauniainen’s sessions have different age groups; children attend with an adult.
• Koivukylä is a local meeting place in Vantaa. Website language does not guarantee the language of every activity.

Sources and contact routes

• Grankulla – Avoin perhetoiminta ja lapsen kotihoito FI
• Vanda – Avoin kohtaamispaikka Koivukylä FI

More in the resource bank

Contact your child’s teacher or principal and explain what happened. A child should not have to solve bullying by buying more expensive things. Ask for a concrete school plan to investigate events and check that they stop.

Helsinki schools have a model for intervening, recording and following up bullying. Children can also report through the Aula digital channel. Student welfare can support the child’s wellbeing alongside this. Help with clothes or hobbies does not replace the school’s work to stop exclusion.

Your next steps

1. Record specific incidents and contact the teacher or principal privately.
2. Ask for a responsible adult, actions and a follow-up date.
3. Contact the school social worker or nurse for additional support.

Good to know

• The digital reporting channel described here applies to Helsinki; other schools may use different routes.
• Do not share a child’s sensitive information in a public chat. Call 112 in immediate danger.

Sources and contact routes

• Helsingfors – Kiusaamisen vastainen toiminta peruskouluissa FI
• Helsingfors – Koulupäivä ja käytännön asiat FI
• Psykporten/Mielenterveystalo – Mistä tukea lapsen mielenterveyden ongelmiin? FI

Call 112 in immediate danger. For urgent but non-life-threatening medical needs, call Medical Helpline 116117. For a non-urgent concern, start with the child health clinic for a preschool child or school health services for a pupil. A health centre can also assess the situation.

Describe how daily life has changed and how long you have been concerned. You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself. The school social worker or psychologist may also be a suitable first contact. Advice for families with children can help with wider everyday difficulties.

Your next steps

1. Choose emergency or routine contact according to urgency.
2. Explain the changes in everyday life and ask for a professional assessment.
3. Ask where to turn if things worsen before the appointment.

Good to know

• Contact routes vary by wellbeing services county and school.
• Mentalhub’s website provides information, not a staffed emergency service.
• This answer does not assess symptoms or recommend treatment.

Sources and contact routes

• Psykporten/Mielenterveystalo – Mistä tukea lapsen mielenterveyden ongelmiin? FI
• Psykporten/Mielenterveystalo – SOS, mistä apua heti? FI

More in the resource bank

Call 112 if anyone is in immediate danger. For domestic violence or threats of it, call Nollalinja on 116 016, free, 24 hours a day. Service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English, with help finding a safe next step.

Shelters are free and do not require a referral. You can seek shelter because of threats and bring your children. You can use a shelter regardless of your home municipality, but availability must be checked. Call ahead if it is safe. Do not delay reaching safety because of packing or missing documents.

Your next steps

1. In immediate danger, call 112 and follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
2. Otherwise call Nollalinja on 116 016 for support and a current route to shelter.
3. Say that children are coming with you and ask about safe arrival.

Good to know

• Shelters serve people facing domestic violence or its threat; they are not a general holiday or housing service.
• This information cannot guarantee a place at a particular shelter.

Nollalinja: 116 016. Free, 24/7, in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Sources and contact routes

• Nollinjen SV
• Nollinjen – Skyddshem SV

Not having banking codes does not stop you contacting Kela. You can call or visit a service point; some require an appointment. Basic social assistance can be applied for on paper and orally when other application methods do not work.

Call to book a visit and check what documents to bring. Digital support is available for learning online services. Never give a helper your banking codes: someone acting for you needs appropriate authorisation. An online application is not necessarily the only route.

Your next steps

1. Choose phone or a Kela service point and check appointment requirements.
2. Ask for the correct paper form or help starting the application.
3. Ask about digital support or authorisation if someone helps you.

Good to know

• Alternative methods vary by benefit; oral applications described here concern basic social assistance.
• Not all remote service points accept paper attachments.
• Kela calls are charged according to your phone plan; an in-person visit does not require your own banking codes.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Kom på besök SV
• FPA – Digitalt stöd SV
• FPA – Utkomststöd: så här ansöker du SV
• Kela · customer service in English EN

Follow the attachment list for that particular application. For a first basic social assistance application, Kela requests bank statements for the family’s accounts covering the last two months. Other documents may concern income, housing and claimed expenses.

Use complete bank statements for the requested period. A mobile banking transaction screenshot or withdrawal receipt is not a substitute. Ask your bank for help obtaining statements and Kela for help sending attachments. Explain promptly if a document is unavailable and ask what alternative can be accepted.

Your next steps

1. Read the attachment list and note what has been sent and what is missing.
2. Get complete statements for all accounts requested by Kela, including foreign accounts.
3. Add relevant bills and documents and check every page is readable.

Good to know

• The two-month instruction concerns a first basic social assistance application; the decision explains what is needed for a continuation.
• Do not send bank statements, identity numbers or health information to the resource-bank chatbot.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Kontoutdrag i samband med utkomststöd SV
• FPA – Digitalt stöd SV
• FPA – För vilka utgifter kan du få utkomststöd? SV

First check that the application has arrived and no attachments are missing. Kela’s normal processing time for basic social assistance is seven working days after receiving the application and necessary attachments. Other benefits have different processing times.

A pending application does not pay a bill or automatically pause debt collection. Ask the bill issuer for more time. If food or essential medicines run out, ask Kela for an urgent assessment instead of simply sending another identical application. Social advice can help with the wider situation.

Your next steps

1. Check receipt, requests for additional information and current processing times.
2. Ask the bill issuer for extra time before a deadline expires.
3. Tell Kela about a new urgent need and ask how to supplement the application.

Good to know

• Seven working days does not apply to every benefit or run from an incomplete application as though all documents had arrived.
• Urgent processing does not automatically mean money reaches your account the same day.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Handläggningstid för utkomststöd SV
• FPA – Utkomststöd: så här ansöker du SV
• KKV – Perintä ja maksujärjestelyt FI

Read the reasons and appeal instructions attached to the decision. Ask for unclear points to be explained, but do not let the appeal deadline pass while waiting. Different benefits have different review and appeal routes.

For Kela’s basic social assistance, request administrative review in writing. Kela states a 37-day deadline from the date the decision was posted; the exact last day appears in its instructions. Use OmaKela, the relevant TO 5 form or a free-form written request. A phone call does not replace it.

Your next steps

1. Mark the deadline and check the correct recipient.
2. Identify the decision, the change you request and why, with supporting documents.
3. Ask Kela or advice services about the process and keep confirmation of submission.

Good to know

• The 37-day rule concerns Kela’s basic social assistance, not every municipal fee or benefit.
• New information or needs may require another application; that does not automatically replace a timely review request.

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Sök ändring i beslut om utkomststöd SV
• FPA – Kundservice för privatpersoner SV

Start with local advice for families with children when several parts of everyday life need support. For Kela benefits, use Kela’s customer service. You do not need to work out the whole division of responsibilities before making contact.

Helsinki provides its own family social services. Espoo and Kauniainen belong to the Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county, Vantaa to Vantaa and Kerava, and Sipoo to Eastern Uusimaa. School and early childhood education fees instead belong to the responsible municipality or provider. Ask for a concrete next step and who takes over.

Your next steps

1. Choose your local family-service advice below if several services are involved.
2. Briefly explain the family’s needs and urgency.
3. Ask for the right service, contact route and required documents, and note what was agreed.

Good to know

• Advice does not guarantee a benefit or available place.
• Call 112 in immediate danger; use emergency social services for urgent social needs instead of a routine message queue.
• Jämlik Barndom provides information and does not decide these benefits.

Contacts in your area

• Helsinki

  Helsinki social advice for families. Finnish: weekdays 9–12. Swedish: Mondays 9–12, callbacks on other weekdays. Ask about English service.

  09 3101 5454Helsingfors – Lapsiperheiden sosiaalineuvonta FI
• Espoo / Kauniainen

  Western Uusimaa social advice for families. Weekdays 9–12, callbacks 8–16.

  029 151 2360Västra Nyland – Sosiaalipalvelujen neuvonta lapsiperheille FI
• Vantaa

  Vantaa and Kerava advice for families. Weekdays 9–12, callbacks 8–20.

  09 4191 5200Vanda och Kervo – Lapsiperheiden neuvonta ja ohjaus FI
• Sipoo

  Eastern Uusimaa Nokka. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9–12; Tuesday and Thursday 12–15.

  019 5600 143Östra Nyland – Nokka: familjecentrets rådgivning och handledning FI

Sources and contact routes

• FPA – Kundservice för privatpersoner SV
• Helsingfors – Lapsiperheiden sosiaalineuvonta FI
• Västra Nyland – Sosiaalipalvelujen neuvonta lapsiperheille FI
• Vanda och Kervo – Lapsiperheiden neuvonta ja ohjaus FI
• Östra Nyland – Nokka: familjecentrets rådgivning och handledning FI