Information for students

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) >. The reimbursement is paid at the beginning of the autumn term, when you have submitted a link to the Koski service or a study certificate for the rehabilition benefit.

Discontinued or delayed studies

Please contact an Elo work ability specialist 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 in our 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 >

Remember to get a tax card as the rehabilitation allowance and the rehabilitation increase are taxable income. 

Elo also pays rehabilitation benefits during the summer months. We recommend that you use the summer taking your studies forward or on practical training to be carried out during your studies.

You can work alongside your studies as long as your earnings do not exceed your earnings limit. You can check your personal earnings limit in our Online Service.

If you only work during the summer months from June to August and your work lasts no more than three months, your summer earnings do not have an effect on the payment of the rehabilitation allowance. If you have already worked during the spring semester or will continue to work during the fall semester, send us a message in our Online Service for the revision of your earnings limit.

You can check your personal earnings limit in our Online Service.

During the rehabilitation benefit, you can be gainfully employed or run a business. However, studying should be your main activity, even if you work alongside your studies. Working alongside your studies must not slow down the progress of your studies.

If your earnings exceed your earnings limit, inform us about it without delay by sending us message in our Online Service.

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.