The government in Finland has approved an amendment to the General Support Act that ensures partial early retirement prior to 1 May 2026 does not affect general support.

Partial early retirement pension will not reduce the amount of unemployment benefit or labour market support if the pension decision was made before 1 May 2026.

However, if the pension decision was announced on 1 May 2026 or later, partial early retirement pension shall be counted as income in the means test for general support.

General support replaced Kela’s basic unemployment benefit and labour market support on 1 May 2026.

General support is means tested, which means that income other than earnings can impact the amount of general support paid.

According to the General Support Act, partial early retirement pension is taken into account as income when means tested.

As a result of the amendment, Kela will pay general support retroactively from 1 May 2026 to those affected.

Prior to the General Support Act, partial early retirement pension did not reduce either the basic unemployment benefit or labour market support paid by Kela.

“The change applies to unemployed people who have received a decision on partial early retirement before 1 May 2026,” Kela explained.

“If the customer has been granted partial early retirement pension before 1 May 2026 and it has been counted as income in the means test for general support, Kela will correct the general support decision retroactively and pay the part of the general support to which the customer was entitled from 1 May 2026.

“The general support to which customers are entitled from 1 May 2026 will be paid retroactively as a one-off payment two banking days after Kela has made the correction decision.

“After the decision has been corrected, the partial early retirement pension will no longer reduce the amount of general support.”

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