Notifications and applications for social assistance sent by Kela to wellbeing services counties 2017–
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Data content
The report contains data on the number of service referral notifications sent by Kela to wellbeing services counties in cases involving social assistance. Before 2023, the notifications were sent to the municipalities.
The notifications can be selected both by the type of notification and the level of urgency.
In the report, the default selection for regional data is the wellbeing services county to which the service referral notification has been sent. In the regional data it is also possible to select the customer’s exact municipality in the wellbeing services county or the region.
The criteria for reporting reduced basic amounts to the wellbeing services county changed as of 1 November 2023. Service referral notifications are sent in an increasing number of cases. If for instance the basic amount of the basic social assistance has been reduced for one month and through a review decision the basic amount is reduced for the following month, a new notification is sent. Previously a notification was sent only for the first month with reduced basic amount.
The reform of the Integration Act, which was implemented at the beginning of 2025, transferred primary responsibility for the integration of immigrants to the municipalities. Before the reform was implemented, Kela would send notifications of all immigrants who had been paid social assistance for more than two months to the wellbeing services counties. Post-reform, Kela sends these notifications to the municipalities instead of the wellbeing services counties. This differs from other types of notifications, which will continue to be sent to the wellbeing services counties.
Perspectives
Depending on the perspective selected, a different set of variables and classifications are presented.
- Comparison by region
- Time series
Variables and classifications
- Reference period: Year, Current year, Month
- Time: The content presented depends on the selected reference period.
The default selection is the latest year. One or several periods can be selected for a single report. - Geographical focus: Whole country, Regions, Regions and municipalities, Wellbeing services counties, Wellbeing services counties and municipalities, Municipalities
- Region: The content presented depends on the selected regional level.
One or several regions can be selected for a single report. - Type of notification: Application; Reduced basic amount; Social work needed; Unemployed person under 25, on social assistance for 4 months; Unemployed person 25 or over, on social assistance for 12 months; Immigrant, on social assistance for over 2 months
- Level of urgency: Non-urgent notifications, Urgent notifications
Availability of statistics
Data available starting 1 January 2017.
Updating frequency
Updated on the first day of each month.
Data source
A complete dataset compiled from the information system for service referral notifications (eTOTU) maintained by Kela.
Additional information
Contact information
Kela, Statistical Information Service
Email: tilastot@kela.fi
