The restructuring protection package for persons aged 55 and over enteed into force on 1 January 2023. The change security includes a change security allowance, which corresponds to one month's salary, and the possibility of receiving change security training.:
The date of termination means the date on which the notice of dismissal was given. Therefore, if the period of notice is long, you must register at Job Market Finland before the unemployment period has even begun.
You must apply to the unemployment fund for restructuring protection. You can apply the allowance already during your notice period, but no later than 3 months after your employment relationship has ended. If you are not a member of an unemployment fund, you can apply to Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) for restructuring protection allowance.
The amount of the restructuring protection allowance is the same, regardless of whether it is paid by an unemployment fund of Kela. The unemployment fund pays restructuring protection allowance even if your membership in the unemployment fund has started right before the dismissal and you have not been a member long enough to receive earnings-related unemployment allowance.
You can apply for the restructuring protection allowance in eService. The application can be seen in eService on the “Make an application” tab, if the unemployment fund has received a statement from the employment authority regarding the restructuring protection allowance. If the application does not appear in eService, please contact the employment authority to get a statement.
You can also apply for the restructuring protection allowance with the form found here on our website.
The amount of the restructuring protection allowance corresponds to approximately one month’s salary.
The restructuring protection allowance is taxable income. We recommend delivering the revised tax card meant for the benefit to A-kassa. Withholding tax is deducted from the restructuring protection allowance according to the additional percentage of the tax card intended for salary.
Restructuring protection training lasts no more than 6 months and is equivalent to no more than 2 months’ pay. Restructuring protection training is provided by the employment authority or the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (“ELY-keskus”). Participation in restructuring protection training is voluntary, and refusal to participate will not result in the loss of unemployment benefits.
In addition, the age limit to qualify for the extension has been rised for those born in 1963 and 1964. Those born in 1965 and after do not have the right to an additional day.
Earnings-related unemployment allowance is usually paid for a maximum of 300–500 days. Additional days (i.e. extended benefit) refer to the right to earnings-related unemployment allowance after this cut-off period. In this case, earnings-related allowance can be paid after the end of the maximum period until the end of the calendar month in which the person that is on additional days turns 65 years.
In order to be eligible for additional days, a certain age must be reached before the end of the cut-off period, and one must have a five-year work history during the 20 years preceding unemployment.
The extended unemployment benefits will be completely discontinued in 2030.
| Year of birth | Extension age limit after amendment |
| 1957–1960 | 61 years |
| 1961–1962 | 62 years |
| 1963 | 63 years |
| 1964 | 64 years |
| 1965 | not eligible for extension |
Withholding tax is deducted from the restructuring protection allowance according to the additional percentage of the tax card intended for salary or according to the percentage of the tax card meant for benefit.
If you don't want the withholding tax to go according to the additional percentage of the salary tax card, send us the revised tax card meant for the benefit.
There is no right to get the restructuring protection allowance if
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