Vocational rehabilitation

Employment pension rehabilitation is vocational rehabilitation.

​You can apply for vocational rehabilitation if you have a properly found illness, defect or disability which is likely to cause a risk of becoming disable to work. Apply by filling in the application form and the necessary enclosures.

You can get a preliminary decision on your right for to vocational rehabilitation when you have applied for a disability pension and you meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation.

You might have the right to vocational rehabilitation if you meet the following criteria:

  • you have not reached your lower retirement age,
  • you have earnings for the previous 36 months or during that time you were not gainfully employed due to caring for a child under 3 years of age or an adopted child over 3 years of age
  • you work as a wage-earner or you stopped working as such no more than three years ago,
  • you suffer from an illness or an injury that makes disability imminent within the next few years,
  • the threat of disability can be postponed or prevented with appropriate vocational rehabilitation,
  • your earnings for the five previous years amount to at least 42 048,18 euros (at 2025 level), and
  • you do not have the right to rehabilitation based on workers’ compensation or motor liability insurance.

Means for vocational rehabilitation

  • work try-out
  • work counselling
  • vocational training (re-training apprenticeship training)
  • business subsidy

During your on-going vocational rehabilitation (work try-out, training etc.), you will receive a rehabilitation allowance equal to the amount of your disability pension plus an additional 33 per cent. If you are on a rehabilitation allowance, you will also get a rehabilitation increment.

Old-age pension
Flexible partial old-age pension
Disability pension
Years-of-service pension
Vocational rehabilitation
Survivors' pension
  • Who will assess my need for rehabilitation and instruct me in applying for vocational rehabilitation?

    Your need for rehabilitation will be assessed by an occupational health physician or other doctor in charge of your care. The doctor will issue a statement to give recommendations concerning vocational rehabilitation as well as medical rehabilitation, which is intended to influence your functioning ability. The doctor will also guide you in how to apply for various benefits.

    The occupational health physician knows your disease/illness and is familiar with the workplace conditions and requirements of your work, and is, thus, able to evaluate your need for vocational rehabilitation measures. Often, it is necessary to have a meeting during which the employee, supervisor, HR representative and occupational health physician or nurse jointly assess, for example, the possibilities of work arrangements and agree on a work trial as needed.
    The occupational health nurse can assist you in completing the application for rehabilitation.

  • Who shall apply for vocational rehabilitation and how is it done?

    The applicant for rehabilitation is the employee. Use the form ETK 2136e to apply for vocational rehabilitation within the earnings-related pension system. Read also the related instructions ETK 2136oe that provide you with guidance on completing the form.

    As part of the application, you need to attach a medical statement B issued by your occupational health physician or other doctor in charge of your care. The statement is issued to describe your health status and the remaining work and functioning ability.

  • Who is responsible for providing rehabilitation in the case of a traffic accident or an occupational accident, injury or illness?

    In accordance with the Occupational Accidents, Injuries and Diseases Act, the statutory accident insurance will cover rehabilitation that is required as a result of an occupational accident, injury or illness. In the case of a traffic accident, the rehabilitation is covered by third-party motor liability insurance. If an application for rehabilitation on the basis of motor liability or accident insurance has been rejected, it is possible to apply for support in the form of vocational rehabilitation within the earnings-related pension system.

  • Who is in charge of insurance security during a work trial?

    The Seafarers’ Pension Fund will insure the rehabilitee by taking an occupational accident insurance for the duration of a non-paid work trial. Moreover, the Fund has taken a liability insurance policy, from which any personal injuries or property losses caused as a result of the rehabilitee’s illness will be compensated for in accordance with the insurance terms and conditions. The insurance will, however, not cover losses insofar as they are compensated for on the basis of the employer’s own liability insurance policy.

    If you are paid wages or salary during the work trial, the employer is responsible for providing relevant insurance security.

  • In connection with the drawing up of a rehabilitation plan, what kind of assessments or clarifications can be paid by the Seafarers’ Pension Fund?

    The Seafarers’ Pension Fund can pay the costs for a rehabilitation plan drawn up by the regional labour agency or a rehabilitation service provider. In contrast, the Fund cannot pay for any assessments carried out to estimate your work or functioning ability or the need for rehabilitation.

  • What will happen if the rehabilitation is unsuccessful?

    Rehabilitation is a process the aim of which is to enable you to return to work. If the planned rehabilitation programme fails and the set goal is not reached, the attending doctor shall review and revise the care and rehabilitation plan. Upon receiving the necessary care and treatment, the rehabilitation programme may be restarted or other methods of vocational rehabilitation may be taken under consideration.

  • What will happen if I fall ill during the work trial?
    As regards sick leaves, the procedure agreed on at the workplace will be followed. Short absences due to an illness, such as a few days because of flu, will not affect the payment of the rehabilitation allowance and there is no need to report them to the Seafarers’ Pension Fund. If, however, the sick leave continues for more than one week, it must be reported without delay and a copy of the sick leave certificate must be submitted to the Fund. Possible suspension or discontinuation of the rehabilitation allowance will be taken under consideration if the sick leave lasts for several weeks
  • Is it possible for a pension provider to pay for rehabilitation intended to influence one’s functioning ability, such as physiotherapy, or to contribute to covering the treatment costs?

    Rehabilitation aimed at restoring or improving one’s functioning ability – also known as medical rehabilitation – is covered either by the health care system or Kela. The health care system is responsible for providing care and treatment in the case of a sickness or illness. Rehabilitation within the earnings-related pension system – or vocational rehabilitation – is implemented in the form of a work trial, work coaching or training for a (new) work or vocation, or by providing support for starting or continuing business activities. In other words, the pension insurance companies do not pay for medical rehabilitation or costs for care and treatment.