Guarantee pension — secures a minimum pension

The guarantee pension ensures your total pension is at least a certain minimum level. In 2026 the full guarantee pension is 990.90 euros a month — if you receive no other pension, or your other pensions fall below this, the guarantee pension tops up the difference to this level.

Other pensions (national pension, earnings-related pension) are deducted from the guarantee pension. However, care allowance, housing allowance, earned income, assets and your spouse's assets or income do not reduce it — family circumstances have no effect on its amount at all. The guarantee pension is taxable income.

You apply for the guarantee pension from Kela, in MyKela (oma.kela.fi) under Pensions. If you took an early old-age pension before the age of 65, the guarantee pension may be smaller or not payable at all — check your own situation with Kela.

Housing allowance for pensioners — often better than the general one

The housing allowance for pensioners covers a significant part of reasonable housing costs (rent or the maintenance charges of an owner-occupied home). The amount depends on your income and housing costs. Kela can pay it directly to the landlord. You apply for it from Kela.

If you and your spouse both receive a pension that entitles you to the housing allowance for pensioners, apply for it with a joint application — it is then paid half to each. Note that this benefit is not granted on the basis of a partial disability pension or a partial early old-age pension alone.

Care allowance for pensioners — not based on your income

The care allowance for pensioners is meant for a pensioner whose functional capacity has been reduced by illness or disability for at least a year. It is not based on your income or assets — nor does your spouse's income affect it. The allowance is tax-free and does not reduce your other benefits. The basis is the need for help, guidance or supervision in daily life (for example washing, dressing, taking medicines).

Three rates (2026)

The rate depends on the need for help: basic care allowance 84.56 €/month (need for help or guidance every week), increased care allowance 184.22 €/month (daily, time-consuming need for help) and highest care allowance 389.54 €/month (need for care and supervision around the clock). You can also get the increased rate if you are entitled to the basic rate and your illness causes you extra costs of at least the amount of the increased rate each month.

• Apply from Kela in MyKela (under Disability benefits → Care allowance for pensioners) or on a form.
• Enclose a recent medical statement C — it must not be more than six months old. A statement B also works if it contains the necessary information. The statement is the most important part of the application.
• Describe the need for help concretely — do not write "moving around is difficult", but "I walk with a walking frame and manage at most 50 metres" or "I forget my medicines without a reminder". Most refusals are due to too vague a description.
• Keep receipts of extra costs (medicines, home service, care journeys) — they can raise the rate. The allowance can be granted retroactively for six months.

Other benefits and advantages

Child increase

If you have a child under 16 to support, you can get a child increase to the national pension or disability pension, about 26 €/month per child. You can get it even if you do not receive a national pension, provided your other pension entitles you to it.

Veteran's supplement

If you receive an additional front-veteran's supplement together with an increased or highest care allowance, you also get a veteran's supplement (about 128 €/month). It does not need to be applied for separately — Kela pays it automatically when the conditions are met.

Social assistance for pensioners too

If your pension and other benefits do not cover essential expenses, a pensioner too can receive social assistance from Kela. It is a last-resort benefit, and it depends on income and assets. If money is repeatedly tight, see also the Money when times are tight guide, and in an acute emergency the Emergency help page helps.

Wellbeing services county support

Much of an older person's everyday help comes not from Kela but from your own wellbeing services county: home care and support services, transport services to help you get around, informal care support for a relative who cares for you, and social work and advice for older people. Contact the service guidance for older people in your wellbeing services county — they will help you work out what services you are entitled to.

Health costs and payment caps

There are two payment caps for health costs, and they work differently. The medicine cap (the annual maximum, about 636 € in 2026) is automatic — the pharmacy and Kela track it for you. The cap on health care client fees does NOT build up automatically: you have to collect the receipts yourself and apply for an exemption card from your wellbeing services county once the cap is reached. So keep all your health care receipts.

This is one of the most commonly unclaimed benefits — many people pay hundreds of euros unnecessarily because they do not know the client-fee cap has to be tracked yourself. More detailed guidance on the caps and your other benefits is in the benefit questionnaire.

Community and peer support

Retirement sometimes brings loneliness and the feeling that there is no one to ask for help. Peer support, company and advice are, however, available free of charge — and often a single phone call is enough. Below are direct numbers you can call. The advice service for older people in your wellbeing services county also helps you find the services.

Important contact details gathered together