Eläkelautakunnat

Eläkelautakunnat, which translates to pension boards or pension committees, are bodies responsible for making decisions regarding pension applications and related matters in Finland. These boards operate at various levels, including national and municipal, and their primary function is to assess the eligibility of individuals for different types of pensions, such as statutory earnings-related pensions, national pensions, and occupational pensions.

The members of eläkelautakunnat are typically appointed and often include representatives from different stakeholder groups, such as employers, employees, and pension providers. Their work involves reviewing medical certificates, employment histories, and other relevant documentation to determine whether an applicant meets the legal criteria for a pension. This can include assessing disability, age, and length of service.

In cases where an applicant is dissatisfied with a decision made by a pension provider, they have the right to appeal to the relevant eläkelautakunta. The boards then conduct an independent review of the case and make a final decision. For more complex or contentious cases, there may be further avenues of appeal to higher courts. The operations of these boards are governed by Finnish pension legislation.