Vocational rehabilitation

The work trial facilitates the return to working life with lighter work arrangements, for example, after an extended absence due to illness. It enables you to return to working life with reduced working hours and/or fewer tasks. You can return either to your previous position or to a new, adapted position for your previous or a new employer.

The work trial requires a preliminary decision of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation as well as a joint agreement signed by the employer, the rehabilitee and Elo.

The work trial can be a paid or unpaid arrangement. It generally lasts 2–3 months, but it can continue, for a justifiable reason, up to a maximum of 6 months.

During the work trial, your working hours may vary between four and eight hours per day. The goal is to increase the working hours gradually up to eight hours as the work trial progresses. If, during the work trial, it becomes apparent that the position is not suitable for your health status, the work trial can be discontinued.

A work trial in a new workplace may be necessary if your employment relationship is no longer valid or your employer no longer has the possibility to offer you tasks that are suitable for your health status.
In terms of ensuring a successful outcome, it is important for the occupational health service to monitor the progress of your work trial.

Work coaching is generally utilised in situations in which the return to working life requires periods of induction and training for new tasks that are longer than what is possible during a work trial. In addition to being longer in duration, work coaching periods can also include external training or courses, if necessary.

If the workplace rehabilitation methods are not sufficient to enable you to continue in the work tasks deemed as suitable for your health status, additional vocational or professional training may be helpful. Elo can support training for a new occupation or profession in the form of an apprenticeship or studies for a vocational upper secondary qualification or a degree from a university of applied sciences. The training can be comprised of individual courses or continued education. The appropriateness of the training plan in relation to your health status is always assessed on an individual basis.

Elo can provide a business subsidy to support individuals in establishing their own company, changing the direction of already established business activities in order to make them more suitable for the person’s health status, or conducting independent professional activities. The eligibility for the subsidy requires that the business or professional activities will provide the applicant with subsistence.

The business subsidy can also be granted towards the acquisition of work equipment and machinery related to the professional activities in accordance with a specific decision and submitted purchase receipts.

The rehabilitation allowance is calculated on the basis of the amount of disability pension that you would receive if you had become incapable of working at the moment you applied for rehabilitation. The amount of the pension is increased by 33 per cent.

The rehabilitation allowance is only paid during active periods of rehabilitation.

If you are working, the rehabilitation allowance is paid as a partial rehabilitation allowance.

 

The rehabilitation subsidy is a fixed-term disability pension that can be granted if you are currently unable to work, but your work ability can be restored through treatment or rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation increase is paid in addition to the rehabilitation subsidy if Elo supports your active rehabilitation. The amount of the increase is 33% of the rehabilitation subsidy for full months of rehabilitation.

• Any rehabilitation-related costs, such as travel and study expenses are reimbursed in accordance with TELA’s recommendations (in Finnish only) >

• Generally, the annually confirmed amount is paid as equal instalments in euro for each academic term. 

• Living expenses for those studying in a municipality other than their home municipality may also be paid. 

• During an unpaid work trial or work coaching, Elo insures the rehabilitee with occupational accident insurance.

• If you are not eligible for other forms of subsistence
• Equivalent to disability pension
• Can also be paid for a maximum of three months during waiting periods or intervals between active rehabilitation periods or while the rehabilitation plan is being drafted.

Elo can provide a business subsidy to support individuals in establishing their own company, or in changing the direction of or continuing already established business activities.