Parliament has passed amendments to the Act on Social Assistance that will enter into force on 1 February 2026. Claimants must now apply for all ‘primary’ benefits—such as earnings-related unemployment allowance—before seeking social assistance, and must register as full-time job-seekers. Failure to comply can trigger a 2–3 percent cut in the basic allowance, and the €150 earned-income deduction will be scrapped.
Although not an immigration measure per se, the reform has direct implications for non-EU residents on low incomes, including recently arrived family members who may rely on social assistance while integrating. Companies that use local-hire contracts should check whether net-pay guarantees could be affected if employees lose deductions.
![Tighter Social-Assistance Rules May Affect Migrants From February 2026]()
For newcomers unsure how the revised rules might intersect with residence permits or future visa renewals, VisaHQ’s Finland page (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides clear, personalised checklists and expert support for navigating Finnish immigration paperwork—helping applicants avoid missteps that could jeopardise welfare eligibility.
Kela, the social-insurance agency, will update its online calculators in January 2026. Mobility managers should circulate the new criteria to staff on local terms and ensure that relocation packages remain sufficient, particularly in high-cost cities like Espoo and Vantaa.
NGOs fear that the changes could push vulnerable groups into undeclared work. The government counters that the tougher regime will incentivise labour-market participation and reduce welfare dependency, aligning with the broader TYKE employment-service reform.
Although not an immigration measure per se, the reform has direct implications for non-EU residents on low incomes, including recently arrived family members who may rely on social assistance while integrating. Companies that use local-hire contracts should check whether net-pay guarantees could be affected if employees lose deductions.
For newcomers unsure how the revised rules might intersect with residence permits or future visa renewals, VisaHQ’s Finland page (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides clear, personalised checklists and expert support for navigating Finnish immigration paperwork—helping applicants avoid missteps that could jeopardise welfare eligibility.
Kela, the social-insurance agency, will update its online calculators in January 2026. Mobility managers should circulate the new criteria to staff on local terms and ensure that relocation packages remain sufficient, particularly in high-cost cities like Espoo and Vantaa.
NGOs fear that the changes could push vulnerable groups into undeclared work. The government counters that the tougher regime will incentivise labour-market participation and reduce welfare dependency, aligning with the broader TYKE employment-service reform.
