Delays in reception centres’ services to those staying in private accommodation — here is how to get help

Within just over a month, almost 17,000 persons fleeing Ukraine have applied for temporary protection in Finland. As a result, we have quickly opened new reception centres across the country.

There have been delays in organising the provision of services to those fleeing Ukraine. We apologise for the situation, and are working to organise the necessary services for those staying at reception centres and in private accommodation as quickly as possible.

When you apply for and are granted temporary protection, you are entitled to reception and spending allowance

While staying at a reception centre or in private accommodation, your reception centre provides you with the services you need. In most cases, applicants for temporary protection can access these services at their nearest reception centre or service point for those staying in private accommodation. The contact details of your reception centre were given to you when you applied for temporary protection. 

If you are staying in private accommodation, you can apply for reception allowance at your reception centre

Reception allowance can be loaded onto a prepaid card, given to you in cash or paid into a personal Finnish bank account.

• Reception allowance is loaded onto a Finnish Immigration Service prepaid card. You can apply for a prepaid card at your reception centre.
• If prepaid cards are not yet available, your reception centre will pay you your reception allowance in cash until the Finnish Immigration Service can supply the cards to the reception centre.
• The allowance may also be paid into your personal Finnish bank account. This is the primary method of payment to those who have a bank account. The Finnish Immigration Service is helping to make it possible for beneficiaries of temporary protection to open bank accounts.

If there are delays in the processing of your application or the payment of your reception allowance, your reception centre will help you meet your basic needs in other ways, such as by providing food aid or supermarket vouchers.

If you are staying in private accommodation and need help with meeting your basic needs, contact your reception centre. 

Contact details can be found on our website: Reception centers.

Also see the joint press release issued by the Finnish Immigration Service and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela): Temporary protection does not confer a right to residence-based social security benefits from Kela (kela.fi).

This bulletin was published in Finnish on 8 April.
This bulletin will be available in Ukrainian later.