“Membership is like unnoticed saving for a rainy day” – Anne’s story
Anne, 42, works in the industrial sector and has been a member of an unemployment fund for 20 years. Her story shows how important the security provided by fund membership can be in unexpected turns in working life. A decision made at a young age can carry far Anne joined an unemployment fund at the […]
Are legal services included in unemployment fund membership?
A common question related to membership is whether legal services are included in A-kassa membership. However, legal services or legal advice related to employment relationships are not included in the membership of any unemployment fund. All unemployment funds, including A-kassa, operate under the same legislation, and providing legal services is not part of the statutory […]
How part-time work affects your earnings-related unemployment allowance?
Types of employment have diversified in both form and content. There is an increasing number of jobs where working hours vary and which do not involve a traditional employment relationship. As new technology solutions emerge, they bring about entirely new type of work. However, many jobs still remain where work is conducted full-time and under […]
Five tips for using AI in your job search
Anyone can make use of AI as a job search tool. AI is readily available for everyone – for free. In your job search, AI can help you identify your skills and guide you towards jobs that might interest you. It can also help you prepare for a job interview and create a CV and […]
Age, health and lack of jobs biggest hurdles for A-kassa members in finding employment
According to the results of a current Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa member survey and A-kassa members’ answers in the unemployment barometer by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, obstacles to finding employment are mainly related to issues that the government’s changes to unemployment security are not capable of addressing. The responses specifically highlighted age, […]
While AI can help with your job search, only you know what your competences are
AI can help you in your job search in many ways, but there is something it cannot do: tell anyone who you are, what skills you have and what your hopes are for a future job. When you are looking for employment, it is important that you are able to describe your competences, strengths, hopes […]
Important things to consider as your summer job ends
If you have joined an unemployment fund during your summer employment, please consider remaining a fund member even when your employment ends. The right to earnings-related allowance may also be accrued with short-term employment relationships. You do not have to work continuously, but you do have to be a fund member in order to be […]
How is earnings-related allowance calculated?
It is a common misconception that earnings-related allowance is always calculated as a certain percentage of salary. Unfortunately, there is more to it than simple percentages. Your earnings-related allowance is based on your average daily salary, calculated from a period of at least 12 months preceding your unemployment or lay-off. All months that fulfil the […]
Mobility allowance covers commuting and relocation expenses when the commute to work is long.
The mobility allowance is a benefit for which you can apply from your unemployment fund if you are unemployed and have accepted a job or are starting training related to an employment relationship that lasts at least two months. To receive the allowance, the daily commute must take at least 3 hours for full-time work […]
For what period should I apply for daily allowance?
Our customer service often answers questions regarding the schedule of applying for earnings-related allowance, i.e. when first-time and follow-up applications should be submitted. The various time attributes may seem confusing, unclear and difficult to remember. To help, we have compiled the most important time attributes to make submitting applications easier. Applications are submitted after […]
Follow the taxation of your benefit in eService!
Do you want to check your benefit tax rate or income limit? You can check your personal tax information in eService. 1. Log in to eService. 2. Go to the “Status Information” tab. Your tax card details are shown on the left-hand side of the page. 3. If you want to change your tax rate, […]
Paid absences and midweek holidays when completing an earnings-related unemployment allowance application
Entering midweek holidays in the application Earnings-related unemployment allowance can be paid for midweek holidays (arkipyhä) during a temporary lay-off on the same grounds as other days of lay-off, if you are not entitled to full pay for the midweek holiday. Different sectors have different practices for compensating employees for midweek holidays: separate midweek holiday […]
A-kassa’s EmploymentWizard released on April 1 – help for job search and career planning
We are proud to present A-kassa’s EmploymentWizard, a new digital service that assists our members in their job search and career planning and helps them discover new opportunities. Starting on April 1, the service is available to all A-kassa members – whether employed, unemployed or considering new career paths. How does the EmploymentWizard help me? […]
A-kassa and Barona launch entirely new kind of employment collaboration
Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa has agreed on a collaboration with working life company Barona. Starting April 1, the collaboration pilot offers employment opportunities to A-kassa members and individual support for job searching and career choices. This marks the first time an unemployment fund and a recruitment service company in Finland are working together to help […]
The effect of the fee for managing election duties on the earnings-related daily allowance
Regional and municipal elections are approaching and with them you may work in the elections as an election official or a vote counter. These jobs are related to taking care of public duties, which should be separated from actual fiduciary duties. If you are getting earnings-related daily allowance and you work as an election official […]
Member story Kari Muhli – Security and support for life’s turning points
Kari Muhli, 61, is a seasoned professional who has had a versatile career as an industrial painter and a master car painter. An unemployment fund member since 1987, Muhli has accumulated experience over an extended period of time. In 1987, Kari joined an unemployment fund on an acquaintance’s recommendation. The decision turned out to be […]
Number of recipients of earnings-related allowance remained consistent
In August, the number of recipients of earnings-related allowance at the Open Unemployment Fund remained consistent with the previous month. In August, 8.9% of A-kassa members received earnings-related allowance. In July, the number was 8.8%. However, of all recipients of earnings-related allowance, the share of lay-off period daily allowance recipients kept going down. At the […]
Changes to unemployment security for older jobseekers
When comparing the age distribution of A-kassa member beneficiaries in relation to the overall member age distribution, we see that unemployment is more prominent among older members. For older jobseekers, the situation became increasingly difficult in the beginning of September as a legislative amendment came into effect, removing the age-related exemption rules for unemployment security. […]
When is the qualifying period set?
Before any daily allowance can be paid, a qualifying period needs to be set. The qualifying period is seven unemployment days or an equivalent time period, and it must be fulfilled within eight consecutive calendar weeks. The TE Office must likewise have you registered as a jobseeker during the qualifying period. A maximum of five […]
Fast and reliable – A-kassa’s member survey 2024 indicates member satisfaction
A-kassa has completed its annual member satisfaction survey, this time targeted to members that have received benefits between May, 2023 and April, 2024. The study was designed to assess fund members’ satisfaction with the fund’s operations and collect ideas for improvement. Our survey received an impressive total of 4,154 responses, so a warm thank you […]