Information package: Rehabilitation allowance for young persons
The following is a brief overview of the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons and trends in the number of recipients by gender, region and diagnostic category. It also looks at the other benefits and services provided to the recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
Rehabilitation allowance for young persons was paid to nearly 12,000 young persons in 2025. Due to legislative changes, the number of recipients has decreased since the figure peaked in 2023.
The most common grounds for the granting of rehabilitation allowance for young persons are various mental disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders. The most common diagnosis is ADHD.
There are more women than men among those who receive rehabilitation allowance for young persons. The highest percentage of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons is seen in North Savo, the lowest in Ostrobothnia.
The purpose of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons is to ensure that the young person starts the vocational rehabilitation process and goes through with it and to improve their employability and provide economic security. The allowance can be granted to young persons between 18 and 19 years of age whose ability to work and study, earn a living or choose a career is impaired and who are in need of special support measures to support their vocational rehabilitation.
Number of people receiving rehabilitation allowance for young persons
Rehabilitation allowance for young persons was paid to about 12,000 young persons in 2025.
In 2010, there were a little under 5,000 recipients. After that, the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons increased until 2023, at which point there were nearly 16,000 recipients.
The number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons began to decline in 2024, falling to a little under 15,000 recipients. The downward trend in the number of recipients accelerated in 2025.
In 2025, rehabilitation allowance for young persons was paid to
- 3.3% of the population aged 16–19
- 0.9% of the population aged 20–24
Explaining the changes in the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons
The changes in the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons are due to changes in legislation.
The increase in the number of recipients until 2024 can be explained mainly by changes made in 2014 to the legislation governing vocational rehabilitation. These legislative changes expanded the number of potential clients: impending disability was no longer a requirement to qualify for the rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
Following the legislative changes, a young person’s impaired ability to study and their overall situation such as their physical, mental and social functioning, are all taken into account when assessing the need for the allowance.
The legislative changes made in 2014 both increased the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons and enabled young persons with issues such as learning disabilities to qualify for the allowance.
Gender differences in rehabilitation allowance for young persons
There are more women than men among those who receive rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
Until 2019, there were more men than women among the recipients. Since then, women have outnumbered men as recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
In 2025, rehabilitation allowance for young persons was paid to 6,400 women and approximately 5,200 men.
Regional differences in rehabilitation allowance for young persons
There are regional differences in the number of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
Insofar as the population aged 16–19 is concerned, the highest recipient rates in 2025 were seen in North Savo (5.6%), North Karelia (5.4%) and South Savo (5.3%). Among the regions in mainland Finland, the lowest recipient rates were recorded in Ostrobothnia (1.9%), Uusimaa (2.2%) and Kainuu (2.8%).
In the 20–24 age group, the highest recipient rates in 2025 were seen in Kanta-Häme (1.7%), North Savo (1.7%) and Central Ostrobothnia (1.5%). Among the regions in mainland Finland, the lowest recipient rates were recorded in Uusimaa (0.5%), South Karelia (0.5%) and Kymenlaakso (0.6%).
The grounds for granting rehabilitation allowance for young persons
Mental and behavioural disorders are the largest diagnostic category among those receiving rehabilitation allowance for young persons, and ADHD is the most common diagnosis.
The most common medical grounds for granting rehabilitation allowance for young persons are
- mental disorders and behavioural disorders
- congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities
- neurological illnesses.
As of the end of 2025, 92.1% of the recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons had a diagnosis of a mental or behavioural disorder. The most common diagnoses were
- hyperkinetic disorders (disturbances of activity and attention, ADHD)
- pervasive developmental disorders
- depression
- intellectual disability
- learning disorders (developmental disorders of scholastic skills)
- anxiety disorders.
Other common illnesses and impairments that constituted grounds for granting rehabilitation allowance for young persons included
- cerebral palsy
- epilepsy
- diseases and disorders of the eye and ear
- congenital malformations involving several organ systems
- Down’s syndrome
Other benefits paid to recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons
Recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons are often paid other social security benefits in addition to it.
This is also common among recipients of other benefits; many people receive more than one social security benefit at the same time. For detailed figures on the rehabilitation allowance for young persons, see the tables in this section.
In 2025, slightly less than half (47%) of all recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons purchased psychopharmaceuticals. Nearly one third (29%) purchased ADHD medications. Disability benefits were paid to 29% of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons, and 28% had a right to a special rate of reimbursement for at least one prescription medicine.
General housing allowance was paid to 30% of the recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons. Among recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons, 21% were paid basic social assistance, 11% were paid student financial aid, 10% were paid unemployment benefits from Kela and 7% were paid sickness allowance.
Further, 19% were reimbursed for visits to a doctor within the private sector and 15% were reimbursed for travel costs.
Among recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons, 10% received other vocational rehabilitation services, while 15% received intensive medical rehabilitation, 10% rehabilitative psychotherapy and 5% rehabilitation services provided on a discretionary basis.
Some of the recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons were also paid another rehabilitation allowance or received other benefits from Kela in 2025.
| Benefit | % of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons | Number of persons |
|---|---|---|
| Psychopharmaceuticals | 47.2 | 5,475 |
| General housing allowance (paid to the recipient or their partner) | 30.3 | 3,517 |
| Disability benefits | 29.1 | 3,374 |
| ADHD medicines | 28.5 | 3,309 |
| Special rate of reimbursement for at least one prescription medicine | 28.5 | 3,301 |
| Basic social assistance | 20.8 | 2,416 |
| Doctors’ fees | 19.5 | 2,258 |
| Travel costs | 15.2 | 1,758 |
| Intensive medical rehabilitation | 14.7 | 1,703 |
| Student financial aid | 11.1 | 1,287 |
| Vocational rehabilitation | 10.4 | 1,206 |
| Rehabilitative psychotherapy | 10.3 | 1,196 |
| Unemployment benefits paid by Kela | 9.7 | 1,120 |
| Labour market subsidy | 9.6 | 1,109 |
| Any sickness allowance benefit | 6.6 | 768 |
| Sickness allowance | 6.6 | 768 |
| Rehabilitation allowance under the Act on Kela Rehabilitation | 5.8 | 675 |
| Rehabilitation granted on a discretionary basis | 5.0 | 577 |
| Disability pension paid by Kela | 2.8 | 321 |
| Reimbursements for dental care expenses | 2.5 | 290 |
| Reimbursements for examination and treatment costs | 2.1 | 238 |
| Conscript’s allowance | 0.5 | 60 |
| Child benefit | 0.5 | 53 |
| Rehabilitation allowance, No information on legal basis of eligibility | 0.4 | 44 |
| Basic unemployment allowance | 0.1 | 13 |
| Child home care allowance | 0.1 | 12 |
| Rehabilitation allowance, Vocational rehabilitation for young persons (Section 7 a) | 0.1 | 12 |
| Rehabilitation allowance, Social Welfare Act (rehabilitation for substance abuse) | 0.0 | 2 |
| Rehabilitation allowance, Health Care Act (rehabilitation for substance abuse) | 0.0 | 2 |
Inferring main diagnostic categories of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons using statistics on entitlement to the special rate of reimbursement
Mental disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders stand out in terms of prevalence among recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons.
In 2025, nearly one third of the recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons were entitled to reimbursement at the special rate for at least one prescription medicine. Medicines can be reimbursed at the special rate if they are used in the treatment of severe and chronic illnesses and the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board (Hila) has confirmed the medicine's status as reimbursable at a special rate.
The diagnostic categories on the grounds of which recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons were entitled to the special rate of reimbursement are shown in the table below.
| Diagnostic category | % of recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons | Number of persons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| F00-F99 Mental and behavioural disorders | 18.1 | 2,099 | |
| G00–G99 Diseases of the nervous system | 3.5 | 407 | |
| J00–J99 Diseases of the respiratory system | 3.3 | 380 | |
| E00–E90 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 3.1 | 358 | |
| M00–M99 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 1.1 | 123 | |
| K00–K93 Diseases of the digestive system | 0.8 | 98 | |
| L00–L99 Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 0.7 | 81 | |
| I00–I99 Diseases of the circulatory system | 0.6 | 69 | |
| C00–D48 Neoplasms | 0.3 | 31 | |
| Q00–Q99 Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities | 0.2 | 18 | |
| H00–H59 Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 0.2 | 17 | |
| N00–N99 Diseases of the genitourinary system | 0.1 | 15 | |
| S00-T98 Injury, poisoning and certain consequences of external causes (T86 Failure and rejection of transplanted organs and tissues 13 persons) | 0.1 | 13 | |
| D50–D89 Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism | 0.1 | 12 | |
| Z00–ZZB Factors influencing health status and contact with health services | 0.1 | 11 | |
| R00–R99 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified | 0.1 | 7 | |
| P00–P96 Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | 0.0 | 3 |
Most common medicines for which recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons get reimbursement at a special rate
The 20 most common medicines for which recipients of rehabilitation allowance for young persons were entitled to a special rate of reimbursment in 2025 are shown in the table below. Medicines can be reimbursed at the special rate if they are used in the treatment of severe and chronic illnesses and the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board (Hila) has confirmed the medicine's status as reimbursable at a special rate.
| Reimbursement number | Description | Diagnosis |
|---|---|---|
| 331 | Atomoxetine, dexamfetamine, guanfacine and lisdexamfetamine | F90 |
| 203 | Chronic asthma and similar chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases | J45 |
| 111 | Epilepsy and comparable convulsive disorders | G40 |
| 112 | Severe psychotic disorders and other severe mental disorders | F29 |
| 103 | Diabetes, insulin-treated | E10 |
| 182 | Brivaracetam, eslicarbazepine, gabapentin, lacosamide, levetiracetam, perampanel, pregabalin, tiagabine and zonisamide | G40 |
| 215 | Diabetes, non-insulin-treated | E10 |
| 183 | Lamotrigine and topiramate | G40 |
| 202 | Disseminated connective tissue diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and comparable conditions | M08 |
| 281 | Abatacept, adalimumab, bimekizumab, etanercept, golimumab, guselkumab, ixekizumab, infliximab, risankizumab, sarilumab, secukinumab, certolizumab pegol and tocilizumab | M08 |
| 317 | Topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus | L20 |
| 313 | Abatacept, adalimumab, bimekizumab, etanercept, golimumab, guselkumab, ixekizumab, infliximab, risankizumab, sarilumab, secukinumab, certolizumab pegol, tocilizumab and ustekinumab | M08 |
| 112 | Severe psychotic disorders and other severe mental disorders | F31 |
| 208 | Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease | K51 |
| 3007 | Atogepant, eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab and rimegepant (prophylactic treatment of migraine) | G43 |
| 112 | Severe psychotic disorders and other severe mental disorders | F32 |
| 186 | Growth hormone | E23 |
| 101 | Anterior pituitary hypofunction | E23 |
| 104 | Hypothyroidism | E03 |
| 215 | Diabetes, non-insulin-treated | E11 |
Objectives and target group of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons
The purpose of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons is to ensure that the young person starts the vocational rehabilitation process and goes through with it and to improve their employability and provide economic security.
Rehabilitation allowance has been available to young persons since 1999 as a means of ensuring access to vocational rehabilitation. Since 2005, the rehabilitation allowance for young persons has been governed by the Act on Rehabilitation Benefits and Rehabilitation Allowance Benefits Granted by Kela (referred to below as the Kela Rehabilitation Act).
The minimum objective of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons is to enable the young person to acquire some additional income on top of any disability pension they may receive, and for this supplementary income to support their economic security. The goal regarding additional income is less ambitious than under vocational rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation is not evaluated in the same way in terms of how appropriate it is for the client.
If the potential for vocational rehabilitation is difficult to estimate for example due to the nature of the illness, Kela will usually grant a rehabilitation allowance for young persons rather than a disability pension. The planned rehabilitation must have a realistic goal of helping the client make a transition to the working world.
Rehabilitation allowance for young persons is available to persons
- who are 18 or 19 years of age (transition period: for those born in 2008 or earlier, the minimum age limit is 16)
- whose capacity for work or study, or ability to choose an occupation or line of work, has declined because of a medical condition or disability
- who need special support in order to undergo vocational rehabilitation and
- who have had a personal study and rehabilitation plan (KHOPS) drawn up in their wellbeing services county to ensure their vocational rehabilitation and promote their employment.
However, payment can continue past age 20 until the recipient has completed the degree or qualifications specified in their study and rehabilitation plan. The minimum amount of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons in 2026 is EUR 31.99 per working day (EUR 799.75 per month). It is subject to tax.
Legislative changes affecting the rehabilitation allowance for young persons
- Rehabilitation Allowance Act (611/1991, repealed): On 1 August 1999, rehabilitation allowance for young persons became payable to 16- and 17-year-olds as a way to prevent their retirement on a disability pension
- Amendment effective 1 April 2002: The age limit was increased to 20 years.
- Act on Rehabilitation Benefits and Rehabilitation Allowance Benefits Granted by Kela (566/2005, referred to below as the Kela Rehabilitation Act)
- Amendment effective 1 January 2014: changes in the vocational rehabilitation laws impacted the rehabilitation allowance for young persons, removing impending unemployment as a qualifying criterion and instead introducing deterioration of ability to study and an evaluation of the client's overall circumstances; the concept of ‘person with functional impairment’ was removed from the Kela Rehabilitation Act
- Amendment effective 1 October 2015: codified into law the requirement that ‘significant deterioration of ability to work and study’ must be evaluated in the manner defined in section 6 of the Kela Rehabilitation Act (having previously only been outlined in government proposal HE 3/2005 vp)
- Amendment effective 1 January 2017: In addition to determining eligibility for rehabilitation allowance for young persons, Kela must check whether a client is entitled to education and training as a vocational rehabilitation measure. The minimum amount of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons and the rehabilitation allowance for vocational rehabilitation clients was raised to equal the guarantee pension
- Amendment effective 1 January 2024: the minimum rates of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons and the allowance paid during vocational rehabilitation were reduced to align with the minimum rate of other rehabilitation allowances (and of the sickness allowance).
- Amendment effective 1 January 2025: the minimum age limit for rehabilitation allowance was raised to 18 years (for those born in 2008 or before, the age limit is 16 years). The rehabilitation allowance for young persons is only available before and between rehabilitation periods if it is necessary to secure the client’s financial situation or the progress of the rehabilitation. Personal income also affects the amount of the rehabilitation allowance for young persons. If the client has wages, salary or self-employment income exceeding EUR 800 per month, the excess is deducted from the rehabilitation allowance.
