How to apply for pension

You must always apply for a pension. The easiest way to do this is through the My Pension service.

Always check your pension record before you apply for a pension. The amount of your pension is calculated on the basis of the information in the pension record. Check your pension record in the online service My Pension.

How do I apply for pension?

When to apply varies depending on the type of pension. Please read the directions on how to apply:

When will I receive my pension decision? Estimated processing times for pension applications

The table shows an estimate of how long it will take Keva to process your pension application and when you can expect to receive your pension decision.

  The earnings-related pension you applied for Estimate of when you will receive your pension decision
  Old-age pension Within about 1 week
  Partial early old-age pension Within about 1 week
  Survivors’ pension Within about 2 weeks
  Disability pension and cash rehabilitation benefit Within about 8 weeks
  Partial disability pension and partial cash rehabilitation benefit Within about 5 weeks
  Extension of cash rehabilitation benefit or partial cash rehabilitation benefit Within about 2 weeks
  Years-of-service pension Within about 10 weeks
  Vocational rehabilitation Within about 3 weeks

Your application may be processed faster or slower than the timeframe described above. Submit your application electronically through the My Pension service – it will speed up the processing. However, we always process your application as quickly as possible. When processing your application, we consider the starting date of your pension.

Tips on how you can speed up receiving your pension decision

  • Check your earnings-related pension record in the My Pension service well before applying, as your pension amount is based on the information it contains. Report any possible errors or missing information to Keva well before submitting your application.
  • Submit your application electronically through the My Pension service.
  • If you are applying for an old-age pension
    • Remember to agree with your employer on the termination of your employment in good time, as an old-age pension can only begin once the employment relationship has ended.
  • If you are applying for a disability pension, cash rehabilitation benefit, partial disability pension, partial rehabilitation allowance, years-of-service pension, or vocational rehabilitation
    • Submit the required attachments together with your application. These include the doctor’s B statement, the employer’s statement on your work ability (the so-called TAK form), and other documents concerning your health.
    • If you are waiting for the B statement from your doctor, check in the My Pension service whether the statement has been received, and remind your doctor if necessary.

Other average processing times

  • Average waiting time for the telephone service about 5 minutes
  • We respond to questions submitted through the My Pension service in about 4 days
  • We investigate any possible errors or omissions in the earnings-related pension record on average in about 3 weeks

Are you living or have you worked abroad?

Your pension may be paid to Finland or to a foreign country. If you are living abroad, the application process is slightly different and you must also report your address annually to Keva.

Learn more about applying for pension when living abroad:

Have you worked while on pension?

Pension that has accrued for employment while on pension can only be paid after you have applied for it. 

Contact Kela about national pension

If your earnings-related pension is not very high, you may also be eligible for national pension. To learn more about national pension, please contact Kela.

After receiving the pension decision

We will notify you of any new pension decisions

  • Via email or text message from Keva, if you have subscribed to the paperless service in Keva’s My Pension service. The actual document will be available in the My Pension service. Keva will not send you the document as an attachment or link.

OR

  • Via the Suomi.fi service, if you have started using electronic messages in the Suomi.fi service, but you have not subscribed to the paperless service in the My Pension service. The actual document will be available in the My Pension service. Suomi.fi will not send you the document as an attachment or link.

OR

  • By mail, if you have not subscribed to the paperless service in the My Pension service or electronic messages in the Suomi.fi service. The document will be sent home to you by mail, and you can also read it in the My Pension service.

Review your pension decision. Inform Keva without delay of any omissions.  If you are unhappy with the pension decision, you can lodge an appeal against it.

You will require a tax card from the Tax Administration for pension, because pensions are taxed differently from earnings. Contact the tax office without delay to obtain the tax card because otherwise a withholding rate of 40% will apply. If you receive a new pension decision and your pension amount changes, check with the Tax Administration whether your tax percentage needs to be adjusted.

The first date of payment of your pension will be indicated in your pension decision.

Have a look also at the New pensioner’s checklist, where we have gathered useful information.

Update your contact information and subscribe to the paperless service

Update your personal telephone and/or email in the My Pension service. You can also subscribe to receive notifications on messages, decisions, and documents in the service. This way we can contact you as soon as possible when there is a new decision or other update in the service.

You can also subscribe to the paperless service in the My Pension service. This way, you can save the environment, and you will receive your documents more quickly.