Intelligibility and Clarity of the Decision Documents
Kela must provide sufficient, objective and intelligible justifications for the benefit decisions it makes. This legal obligation to provide justification is particularly weighty if the customer does not receive the benefit they have applied for, i.e. the decision is a rejection. When an application for sickness allowance or disability pension is rejected by Kela for reasons related to work ability, the solution experts rely on statements written by Kela’s expert doctors in particular. The legislative reform (875/2014) which entered into force in 2015, aimed to improve the justifications for Kela’s decisions, especially in benefit decisions requiring medical assessment.
The study uses a survey to find out how Kela’s solution experts who process disability pensions and sickness allowance matters feel that work practices support the making of objective, clear and intelligible decision texts in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Section 9) and to what extent the legislative reform (875/2014) is considered to have succeeded in its objectives, i.e. to have affected the improvement of the reasoning behind decisions. The focus is particularly on the functionality of technical tools (information systems and phrases) and the impact of the assessments by expert doctors to whom the decisions refer.
The study is carried out in co-operation between Kela’s research and the Institute for the Languages of Finland (Kotus). The results of the study can be used in the development of work practices and of benefit decisions and their justifications, and more generally in the development of administration.
Researchers
- Hanna-Mari Heinonen, Leading Researcher
- Markku Laatu
- Hannu Mattila
- Ulla Tiililä
- Jenni Viinikka
Project Implementation Period
1.2.2023–31.7.2024
