Reception allowance
If you are an asylum seeker or have applied for or been granted temporary protection, you may get reception allowance. The reception allowance is meant for your immediate basic needs. You can be granted reception allowance if you do not have enough income and funds to cover your immediate basic needs, such as food and clothing.
Reception allowance is not granted automatically. You can apply for the allowance from your own reception centre by filling in an application form. Your reception centre can give you the application form and instructions for applying.
The reception allowance consists of the basic component and the supplementary reception allowance.
The basic component of the reception allowance is intended for clothing, minor health care costs, expenses on the use of local transport, and telephone costs, for example. The basic component is also intended for food costs if the reception centre does not offer daily meals.
In addition to the basic component, you can apply for supplementary reception allowance for the special needs of you and your family.
Your income and funds affect the amount of your reception allowance
When you apply for reception allowance, you must tell the reception centre all your income and funds.
The amount of the reception allowance is always determined individually on the basis of the needs and funds of the person and his or her family.
All income and funds you and your family have at your disposal affect the amount of your reception allowance.
Even income and funds you receive from abroad affect the amount of the reception allowance, if you have the income and funds at your disposal in Finland.
Housing costs will not be covered
If you live in private accommodation, your housing costs, such as rent, electricity and water expenses, will not be paid for. Housing or organizing your housing is not financially supported.
Will travelling affect my reception allowance?
The reception allowance is meant for persons residing in Finland. Travelling abroad may affect your right to receive reception allowance. If you apply for reception allowance and intend to travel outside Finland, inform your reception centre of your trip.
Children who are in Finland without a guardian are paid spending allowance
Reception centres that are intended for children, so called units for minors, secure the living of unaccompanied minors by arranging full board and lodging for children who are in Finland without their guardian. Units for minors take care of the children’s necessary expenses and additional costs related to their special needs such as hobbies and studies. Children who live in a unit for minors receive spending allowance instead of reception allowance. The spending allowance is intended for the child’s personal expenses. It is not used to secure the child’s living.
Unaccompanied minors who live in private accommodation or in a supported housing unit for persons over 16 years of age are paid reception allowance. The amount of this reception allowance is the same as it is for adults living alone.
