Apply for disability pension on the disability pension application form (pdf).

Answer the questions on the form carefully and enclose a medical statement B with your application.

You can receive a disability pension when Kela has stopped paying you sickness allowance. This is about one year after the onset of your disability.

You can apply for a preliminary decision concerning a partial disability pension while still in full-time employment. Upon receiving the preliminary decision, you have nine months to agree with your employer on lightening your workload. Your pension can start when your earnings fall to 60 per cent of your previous earnings. You can receive partial disability pension even if you finish working altogether.

Disability pension can be awarded to people between the ages of 18-63. The main criteria for being awarded a pension are a sickness, impairment or disability.

Disability pension may be awarded as partial disability pension if the applicant is fit enough to work part-time or perform lighter tasks while drawing the pension. Disability pension may also be awarded as a fixed-term cash rehabilitation benefit if the applicant’s capacity to work is expected to be restored.

A disability pension may be awarded to a seafarer whose capacity to work has diminished due to an illness, impairment or disability for at least one year.

Full disability pension is awarded if your capacity to work has diminished by at least 3/5. Pension generally starts after the period of sickness allowance preceding the payment of the disability pension has ended, in other words about a year after the onset of your disability.

Partial disability pension is granted if your capacity to work has diminished by at least 2/5. A person can apply for a preliminary decision concerning entitlement to partial disability pension while still in full-time employment. The partial disability pension is half of the full disability pension.

If your work capacity is expected to be restored through treatment or rehabilitation, pension is awarded as cash rehabilitation benefit for a fixed term.

You need to enclose with your pension application a medical statement B issued by a doctor concerning your state of health. The assessment of the extent to which your work capacity has diminished takes into consideration your remaining capacity to engage in suitable gainful employment that could reasonably be expected in view of your educational background, previous work experience, age and place of residence as well as other similar factors.

The right of a 60-year-old person to disability pension is assessed especially from the perspective of his or her profession. A disability pension may be awarded to a seafarer whose capacity to work has diminished due to an illness, impairment or disability for at least one year.

Full disability pension is awarded if your capacity to work has diminished by at least 3/5. Pension generally starts after the period of sickness allowance preceding the payment of the disability pension has ended, in other words about a year after the onset of your disability.

According to legislation, occupational health care should assess and monitor the health and work capacity of employees. If necessary, it can refer a person for medical rehabilitation arranged by Kela the Social Institution of Finland.

Sometimes it is necessary to make special work arrangements in order to maintain work capacity. Such arrangements necessitate occupational health care expertise as well as the readiness of the shipping company for the arrangements. The consent of the employee is always needed for discussions concerning work arrangements. Without consent, occupational health care never discloses any information to the employer.

Earnings-related pension accrues from annual earnings. Besides time in employment, pension can also be calculated for the period from the onset of disability until retirement age. This is known as projected pensionable service.
The partial disability pension amounts to half of the full disability pension.

If a person on full disability pension receives confirmed income amounting to 40-60 per cent of the average earnings on which the pension is based, consideration is given to converting the pension into partial disability pension or suspending or discontinuing the pension. The Seafarer’s Pension Fund must always be notified of a return to work.

A person on partial disability pension may also work. If his or her stabilised earnings exceed 60 per cent of the average earnings on which the disability pension is based, consideration is given to discontinuing the pension. The Seafarer’s Pension Fund must be notified of a change in earnings.

The above-mentioned limits that apply to gainful employment also apply to disability and partial disability pension awarded as cash rehabilitation benefit.

If your employment contract is still valid, discuss your situation with your supervisor, occupational health care or personnel management representative. You can assess together your possibilities to continue working. You are also entitled to unemployment allowance even if your employment contract is valid.

If your employment contract has ended and you are unable to return to your previous employment, register as a job seeker at an employment office as soon as possible. You are entitled to receive unemployment allowance if the employment authority is unable to find you appropriate employment.
You are entitled to appeal your pension decision.