It's a good idea to join an unemployment fund – even when you're young

What are unemployment funds?

Sometimes after you’ve graduated, it might be hard to find a job, you might have unemployment spells between jobs, a steady job might end suddenly or you can only find part-time work.

For these situations there are unemployment funds that provide an income for their members during unemployment.

You can join an unemployment fund already at 18 years old, during, for example, a summer job. This way you can claim earnings-related allowance if you are left without a degree place or are unable to to find a job after graduation.

What do you get by joining a fund?

By joining a fund you can start to accumulate your right to earnings-related allowance. This way if you are unemployed, you can claim unemployment security, that is based on your salary.

If you’re not a member of an unemployment fund, you can claim unemployment security from Kela. Kela pays an unemployment security that is the same amount for everyone and usually lower, than the earnings-related allowance paid by an unemployment fund.

Use the calculator below to count an estimate of your earnings-related allowance based on your last salary.

1. Monthly salary
Fill in you gross salary (before taxes).

2. Children
If you have children, you can claim a higher allowance.

3. Taking part in an employment promotion measure
An employment promotion measure is a training arranged by the TE Office. You can claim a higher allowance during the measure.

4.1. Earned income
The calculator can take into account a salary for for example part-time work.

4.2. Social benefits
The calculator can take into account a social benefit you receive, such as child home care allowance.

1. Your daily allowance
Fill in your allowance before taxes.
 
2. Does the allowance include a child increase
If the daily allowance filled in above includes an increase due to children, choose yes.

3. Does the allowance include an increase for an employment promotion measure
If the daily allowance filled in above includes an increase due to employment promotion measure, choose yes.

4.1. Earned income
The calculator can take into account a salary for for example part-time work.

4.2. Social benefits
The calculator can take into account a social benefit you receive, such as child home care allowance.

When can you claim earnings-related allowance

You can claim earing-related unemployment security if:

  • You are at least 18 years old (or at least 17 years old and finished your compulsory education)
  • You have a professional degree, or you have applied to school but haven’t got in, or you’re at least 25 years old
  • You are unemployed or temporarily laid off or can only find part-time or gig work
  • You seek full-time work and have registered as an unemployed job-seeker with the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office)
  • You are a member of an unemployment fund
  • You have been working for a total of 6 months while being a member of an unemployment fund

Can a student claim unemployment insurance?

Earnings-related allowance can not be claimed when you are a full time student.

However, it is a good idea to join an unemployment fund already during your studies. This way you can accumulate your right to earnings-related allowance before you graduate. A right to earnings-related allowance can accumulate though, for example, a summer job lasting two summers.

More on the subject: Terms and duration, Studies and unemployment benefits

How much does membership cost?

The members of unemployment funds pay a membership fee that is 90 euros a year on average.

Some funds have yearly or monthly membership fee. In some funds the fee depends on your income. You can find a list of all Finnish unemployment funds’ fees here: Membership fees

How to join

You can join an unemployment fund during a summer job, a part-time job, permanent employment or while working as an entrepreneur.

You must apply for membership in an unemployment fund. You can find instructions on how to apply from the fund’s website. You can find the contact information on all Finnish unemployment funds here: Funds’ contact information

There are many unemployment funds for employees and one for entrepreneurs. Some funds are sector-specific, i.e. joining a fund may require you to be employed in a specific profession or sector. Others require you to have specific training. In addition to this, there are also funds that anyone can join.

All funds pay out the same amount of benefit with the same terms.