Processing times for social assistance applications were met well in April 2026
In April 2026, a total of 223 000 applications for basic social assistance were submitted to Kela. The number of applications was slightly lower (–0,6 %) than in April 2025. Kela processed almost all applications, i.e. 99,9 per cent of applications, within seven working days, which is slightly more than a year earlier (99,7 %).
In April 2026, a total of 29 000 applications for supplementary and preventive social assistance were submitted to the wellbeing services counties. The number of applications increased significantly (10,5 %) compared to April 2025.
Despite the increase in the number of applications, processing became faster in the wellbeing services counties. A total of 98,0 per cent of applications were processed within seven working days. The share improved compared to 2024, when it was 97,1 per cent.
| Year | Kela | Wellbeing services counties |
|---|---|---|
| 4/2021 | 98,2 | 98,2 |
| 10/2021 | 99,8 | 98,7 |
| 4/2022 | 98,2 | 98,2 |
| 10/2022 | 99,3 | 96,5 |
| 4/2023 | 99 | 97,2 |
| 10/2023 | 99,8 | 97,9 |
| 4/2024 | 94,1 | 97,1 |
| 10/2024 | 99,8 | 98,2 |
| 4/2025 | 99,7 | 97,1 |
| 10/2025 | 100 | 97,4 |
| 4/2026 | 99,9 | 98 |
There are large regional differences in the number of social assistance applications
In April 2026, the number of applications for basic social assistance across the whole country was 40 applications per thousand inhabitants. The number of applications varied considerably between regions. Within basic social assistance, the number of applications was at most approximately three times higher compared to the regions with the lowest number of applications.
The highest numbers of applications were recorded in the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county (67/1 000 inhabitants), the City of Helsinki (56/1 000 inhabitants) and Päijät Häme (47/1 000 inhabitants). The lowest numbers of applications were recorded in Ostrobothnia (24/1 000 inhabitants) and Central Ostrobothnia (26/1 000 inhabitants).
The number of applications for supplementary and preventive social assistance was 5,1 applications per thousand inhabitants. This represented an increase of 0,5 applications per thousand inhabitants compared to April 2025.
There were also large regional differences in the number of applications for supplementary and preventive social assistance. Within supplementary and preventive social assistance, the number of applications was at most more than five times higher compared to the regions with the lowest number of applications.
The highest numbers of applications in relation to the population were recorded in Helsinki (10,3/1 000 inhabitants), as well as in the Vantaa and Kerava (8,1/1 000 inhabitants) and Western Uusimaa wellbeing services counties. The lowest number of applications was recorded in Satakunta (1,9/1 000 inhabitants).
| Wellbeing services county | Applications per 1,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|
| Helsinki | 10,3 |
| Vantaa and Kerava | 8,1 |
| West Uusimaa | 6,7 |
| Pirkanmaa | 6 |
| East Uusimaa | 5,3 |
| The whole country | 5,1 |
| North Savo | 4,8 |
| South Karelia | 4,1 |
| South Savo | 4,1 |
| Southwest Finland | 4,1 |
| Central Finland | 3,9 |
| Ostrobothnia | 3,7 |
| North Karelia | 3,5 |
| Kanta-Häme | 3,4 |
| Kymenlaakso | 3,2 |
| South Ostrobothnia | 3,1 |
| Central Uusimaa | 3,1 |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 3 |
| Päijät-Häme | 3 |
| Lapland | 2,9 |
| North Ostrobothnia | 2,8 |
| Kainuu | 2,5 |
| Satakunta | 1,9 |
In some regions, requests for additional information are made clearly more often than in others
In April 2026, Kela requested additional information in 24,5 % of applications for basic social assistance. The share of requests for additional information decreased by 1,5 percentage points compared to April 2025.
Additional information is typically requested for approximately one quarter of applications for basic social assistance.
There is considerable variation between wellbeing services counties in requests for additional information. In some regions, additional information is requested clearly more often than in others.
The highest shares of requests for additional information were recorded in Kymenlaakso (46,8 %), Päijät Häme (27,3 %), Satakunta (23,6 %) and South Karelia (23,1 %). The lowest shares relative to the number of applications were recorded in the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county (3,8 %) and in Ostrobothnia (5,1 %).
| Wellbeing services county | Applications per 1,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|
| Kymenlaakso | 41,8 |
| Päijät-Häme | 24,3 |
| South Karelia | 21,2 |
| Satakunta | 21,0 |
| Central Uusimaa | 20,6 |
| North Karelia | 19,5 |
| Kanta-Häme | 18,1 |
| South Ostrobothnia | 16,4 |
| Kainuu | 16,3 |
| Lapland | 16,3 |
| North Savo | 15,5 |
| South Savo | 14,2 |
| Southwest Finland | 12,5 |
| The whole country | 12,3 |
| North Ostrobothnia | 11,9 |
| West Uusimaa | 11,0 |
| Helsinki | 10,8 |
| Pirkanmaa | 10,5 |
| East Uusimaa | 9,1 |
| Central Finland | 9,0 |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 6,8 |
| Ostrobothnia | 4,8 |
| Vantaa and Kerava | 3,8 |
About the data in more detail
- Read the entire statistical report (Julkari)
- Compilation view of the statistics
- Indicator data in Sotkanet
Data base reports
- Monitoring of social assistance processing times (cube) (in Finnish)
- Processing times for Social assistance applications (summary)
Background information
- Statistical quality report
- Data description (Data resources catalogue)
- Instructions for submitting data (in Finnish)
Source
Processing times for social assistance applications in April 2026
Statistical report 25/2026, 18.06.2026.
Official Statistics of Finland, Processing times for social assistance applications. THL.
Description of the statistics
The statistics on processing times for basic social assistance applications include information obtained from Kela and collected from the wellbeing services counties regarding the fulfilment of statutory obligations related to the Act on Social Assistance (1412/1997).
The data cover the number of applications and urgent applications, the processing times of applications and requests for additional information, the number of such requests required for applications, and clients’ opportunities to have a personal discussion with a social worker/advisor during two monitoring months (April and October).
THL collects data on the processing times of social assistance applications twice a year. The information is published in June and December.
Update schedule
The statistics are updated annually in June and December.
A more precise publication date will be updated in the publication calendar.
Statistics publication calendar
Contact details
Senior Planning Officer
tel. +358 29 524 7162
[email protected]
Senior planning officer
tln. +358 29 524 8207
[email protected]