You can fill in and print out the pension application form (pdf, available in Finnish) and send it to the Seafarer’s Pension Fund.

Enclose an unemployment certificate with your application. You receive the certificate from the payer of your unemployment allowance, in other words an unemployment fund or Kela. Moreover, you should ask the employment office for a certificate to confirm that your unemployment will continue. If you have reached 60 years of age, you receive the unemployment certificate upon completion of the 500-day unemployment allowance period. If you have already received continued unemployment allowance, you receive the unemployment certificate when you reach 60 years of age.

The Seafarer’s Pension Fund will process your pension application if your last employment contract is insured with us. If you have worked in municipal or State employment in addition to the private sector, you will receive from us a decision that combines the pensions in accordance with all these systems. The Seafarer’s Pension Fund will also pay your entire earnings-based pension.

Payment of unemployment pension

Unemployment pension starts either at the age of 60 or from the beginning of the month following the conclusion of the 500-day unemployment allowance period.

The Seafarer’s Pension Fund pays the pension on the last banking day of the month.

You can engage in gainful employment while drawing an unemployment pension with an earnings limit of 656,08 euros per month in 2011. Payment of your pension is suspended during those months when your earnings exceed this amount. If your gainful employment lasts for more than one year, the pension is discontinued altogether. If you go to work while on an unemployment pension, you must notify the Seafarer’s Pension Fund.