Information for rehabilitation benefit recipients
Instructions for students, how to submit information about the status of your studies
In order for us to continue paying your benefits, you will need to provide us with information about your term registration and the status of your studies during August.
Here’s how:
1. Register as a student for the upcoming academic term.
2. Log in to the Koski service using your online banking codes (the service is only provided in Finnish and Swedish): www.opintopolku.fi/koski.
3. Go to ‘Jaa suoritustietoja’ (share information). Select the information you wish to share and copy the link.
4. Send the link through secure mail.
We will send you a confirmation message once we have received the link you sent. We will contact you if we need more information about the progress of your studies. If you would like to provide us with more information about your studies, please send us a message via the Messages tab in the online service.
This method replaces the need to submit a written study certificate and transcript of your student record. If you submit the link that takes us directly to your student information, you will no longer need to submit any forms to us.
Alternatively, you can opt to submit to Elo the study certificate form completed by the educational institution and the transcript of your student record. The study certificate form is found from this link in Finnish: elo.fi/opiskelijatodistus. All relevant forms can be submitted using Elo’s online service at www.elo.fi/pensionservice.
If your studies are not progressing as planned, please contact us, tel. +358 (0)20 694 717.
Instructions for students receiving vocational rehabilitation
Travel reimbursement
You can receive compensation for certain travel expenses related to vocational rehabilitation. Further information about travel reimbursements is available from TELA (in Finnish) >
You can apply for travel reimbursements online at www.elo.fi/elakepalvelu. Log in to the Online Pension Service using your personal online banking codes.
Reimbursement for the costs of living outside your home municipality
Some rehabilitees will have extra living expenses as a result of having a residence both in their home municipality and the municipality in which their rehabilitation takes place. In these cases, the additional expenses will be reimbursed, during the months of active rehabilitation, in the form of a partial daily allowance provided in accordance with the decision issued by the Tax Administration on the tax-exempt compensations for business travel. The reimbursements can be applied for through Elo’s Online Pension Service at www.elo.fi/elakepalvelu. Log in to the service using your personal online banking codes. A document detailing your additional expenses and a copy of your rental agreement must be attached to your application.
Standard compensation
Elo reimburses expenses from studies that lead to a qualification or degree in accordance with TELA’s reimbursement recommendations (in Finnish only) >. Before we can pay the reimbursement, we will need to receive a study certificate, which you can submit using the attachment submission option available in Elo’s Online Pension Service. Log in to the service using your personal online banking codes at www.elo.fi/elakepalvelu. The payment of the reimbursement will be made in the beginning of the autumn term.
Discontinued or delayed studies
Please contact an Elo rehabilitation expert if your studies are discontinued or delayed. Any unduly paid benefits may be recovered from you.
Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship will always be agreed on with the local apprenticeship agency. At the start of the apprenticeship, submit to Elo a copy of your employment contract, apprenticeship agreement and a study certificate from the educational institution in question. The guidelines regarding students are generally applicable to apprenticeship training.
Working while studying
You can work while studying as long as you stay within the relevant earnings limits. Your personal earnings limits are stated in the decision concerning your rehabilitation benefit.
In August and February, provide us with information on the progress of your studies for the payment of your benefit and cost compensation.
Here’s how:
1. Register as a student for the upcoming academic term
2. Log in to the Koski service using your online banking codes (the service is only provided in Finnish and Swedish): www.opintopolku.fi/koski >
3. Go to ‘Jaa suoritustietoja’ (share information). Select the information you wish to share and copy the link
4. Send the link through secure mail >
This method replaces the need to submit a written study certificate and transcript of your student record. If you submit the link that takes us directly to your student information, you will no longer need to submit any forms to us.
Alternatively, you can opt to submit to Elo the study certificate form completed by the educational institution and the transcript of your student record. The study certificate form is found from this link in Finnish: elo.fi/opiskelijatodistus >. All relevant forms can be submitted using Elo’s online service at www.elo.fi/pensionservice >
Remember to get a tax card as the rehabilitation allowance and the rehabilitation increase are taxable income.
Elo also pays rehabilitation benefits during the holiday months. We recommend that the holiday period be used for studies or practical training.
Congratulations on your graduation! Now it’s time for you to enter working life.
Remember to submit your qualification or degree certificate to Elo using the attachment submission option available in Elo’s Online Pension Service at www.elo.fi/elakepalvelu. Log in to the service using your personal online banking codes.
Changes to TELA’s recommendation concerning reimbursements for rehabilitation as of 1 January 2019
1. Travel reimbursements are paid for return trips instead of one-way trips.
2. The travel reimbursement rate is 0.11 euro/km.
3. The maximum reimbursement for trips between the individual’s home and rehabilitation site is 600 euro.
The rehabilitation recommendation concerns the reimbursements of costs related to vocational rehabilitation. Please note that, as of 1 January 2019, the old reimbursement form for travel and accommodation costs is no longer in use. Read more about TELA’s currently valid rehabilitation recommendation (in Finnish only) >
The easiest way to apply for cost reimbursements is through Elo’s Online Pension Service. Log in to the service using your personal online banking codes.
Taxation of benefits
When you receive the decision on rehabilitation, ask the tax authorities to calculate a withholding percentage for the rehabilitation benefit to be paid to you. The rehabilitation allowance and assistance are taxed as benefits, while the rehabilitation increase is taxes as pension income. For the calculation of the tax rate, you will need to provide the tax authorities with the decision regarding your benefit as well as information about other forms of income and related withholdings. Order a tax card from the tax authorities. The tax authorities will send the tax card directly to Elo.
Altogether 40 % tax will be withheld from your benefit if your tax information is not available prior to the first payment. Any excessive withholding tax will be returned/paid to your account (within approx. one week), once Elo receives the tax card calculated by the tax authorities. The repayment of excessive taxes is, however, only possible as they relate to benefits paid during the current year.
Cost reimbursements, such as compensation for travel and accommodation expenses are tax exempt and are not considered in the taxation.
Manage your pension and rehabilitation matters online
In Elo’s Online Pension Service you can do the following:
• Check the next payment date and tax percentage.
• Inform about changes to an account number or contact information.
• Apply for reimbursement of travel expenses connected with vocational rehabilitation.
• Take the paperless service into use, whereby you will have access to all documents concerning your benefit directly through Elo’s Online Pension Service.
Elo is here to help and support you
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