From 1 May 2026 onwards, the partial old-age pension will be taken into account as income in Kela’s new general social security benefit. This may reduce the amount of the benefit.

The general social security benefit will enter into force on 1 May 2026 and replace Kela’s current unemployment benefits, that is, the basic unemployment allowance and the labour market subsidy. Under the new benefit, the applicant’s capital income and other non-wage income are taken into account in the means test. This also includes the partial old-age pension.

In practice, this means that a partial old-age pension may reduce the general social security benefit if the person’s income exceeds the income limit applied in the means test. A partial old-age pension does not affect the amount of the earnings-related unemployment allowance.

A partial old-age pension cannot be suspended

A partial old-age pension continues until the person retires on a full old-age pension or is granted a disability pension. It cannot be discontinued or suspended.

However, the pension decision can be cancelled within three months of the pension being granted. For this reason, it is important to carefully assess how a partial old-age pension may affect one’s own situation before applying, especially if applying for Kela’s general social security benefit during a period of unemployment may become relevant.

A transitional provision is being prepared for people already receiving the pension

On 14 April 2026, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health announced that it had launched the preparation of a legislative amendment concerning people receiving a partial old-age pension in connection with the introduction of the general social security benefit.

The amendment concerns people who received a decision on their partial old-age pension before 16 January 2026. The aim is to safeguard income in situations where the decision to move to a partial old-age pension was made without information on how the general social security benefit would affect the level of the benefit.

The Government proposal is intended to be submitted to Parliament in spring 2026. The aim is for the Act to enter into force as soon as possible, and it could be applied retroactively from 1 May 2026 onwards.

For more information on the general social security benefit, please contact Kela. In pension matters, the Seafarers’ Pension Fund advises its customers through the Loki online service and by phone.