Implementation of the new Disability Services Act has progressed in the wellbeing services counties – more information is needed on the effects of the legislation
At the beginning of 2025, a new Disability Services Act entered into force. According to the wellbeing services counties, the organisation of services under the new legislation and the implementation of the Act have, in many respects, proceeded well. However, a survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) among the wellbeing services counties shows that there are also challenges associated with implementation and that some of the new services are still under development.
Monitoring of the new Disability Services Act was launched in spring 2025 as required by Parliament and will continue until the end of 2027. As part of the monitoring process, the wellbeing services counties assessed the state of disability services in a survey conducted by THL at the end of 2025. All wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki responded to the survey.
Implementation has progressed, but development work continues
According to the survey, the organisation of most disability services proceeded without significant problems, according to the wellbeing services counties. Client participation was also considered to be functioning well, particularly in needs assessments and the preparation of client plans. In addition, about a third of the areas considered that the new legislation had brought new client groups within the scope of services and improved opportunities for people who had previously remained outside services to receive services that meet their needs.
At the same time, the results indicate that implementation still requires further development of practices. In particular, some problems were reported in entirely new services and in housing support, and related development work was still ongoing in some areas.
Challenges in client processes and service coordination
Based on the responses from the wellbeing services counties, processing times for applications had increased compared with the situation in 2022. Difficulties in initiating needs assessments within the statutory time limit had also become more common. In addition, more than half of the areas reported challenges in implementing non-urgent disability service decisions. The wellbeing services counties considered these challenges to be particularly related to insufficient staffing resources and the introduction of the new legislation.
The results also highlighted problems in the availability of services under the Social Welfare Act. Several areas considered that services under the Social Welfare Act were not sufficiently available to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. At the same time, however, the areas reported that cooperation with primary services had intensified and that structural development work to coordinate services had begun.
"The results show that implementation of the new Disability Services Act is under way, but continued attention must be paid to the smooth functioning of client processes, the availability of services under primary legislation and the adequacy of resources," says Leading Specialist Päivi Nurmi-Koikkalainen.
More information is needed on the effects of the Disability Services Act
The reform of the Disability Services Act is extensive, and its effects will only become fully visible over a longer period. The first comprehensive survey of the wellbeing services counties provides an overall picture of implementation of the new Disability Services Act and the state of disability services at the end of 2025, but it does not yet provide a comprehensive picture of the reform's effects.
"In future monitoring, information will be deepened, among other things, on the effects of the new Disability Services Act on client participation, equitable access to services, and the adequacy of staffing and financial resources," says Nurmi-Koikkalainen.
A survey aimed at experts from disability organisations will be carried out as part of the monitoring process in autumn 2026, and the comprehensive survey of the wellbeing services counties will be repeated in 2027.
Read the survey results (In Finnish): The status of the Disability Services Act reform at the end of 2025 as assessed by the wellbeing services counties (Julkari)
Further information
Päivi Nurmi-Koikkalainen
Leading Specialist
tel. +358 29 524 7454
[email protected]
Marika Korhonen
Specialist researcher
tel. 029 524 7506
[email protected]