kokemuslisät

Kokemuslisät, or experience supplements, are supplementary payments attached to certain Finnish social security benefits. They are not a single nationwide benefit but a designation used in several separate schemes to reward or reflect an individual’s long work history or specialized expertise. Administration is handled by different authorities depending on the benefit: the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) administers most general benefits, while the Finnish Centre for Pensions and unemployment security programs administer supplements linked to pensions and unemployment benefits.

Eligibility and amount are defined in each scheme. Common elements include residence in Finland, entitlement to the base benefit (pension, disability allowance, sickness allowance, or unemployment benefit) for a minimum period, and income limits. The payment of kokemuslisä can be automatic within a scheme or require a separate application, often supported by employment records, pension statements, and other documentation. The supplements are typically modest and designed to augment the base benefit rather than replace it.

Impact and scope: Kokemuslisät are intended to acknowledge career length and professional experience, particularly for lower-income retirees or long-term unemployed individuals. They can influence the total benefit level and, in some cases, tax treatment. Because the provisions vary by scheme, current rules and amounts are best checked with official sources such as Kela, the Finnish Centre for Pensions, or TE-toimisto (the Employment and Economic Development Office).