As part of my municipal election campaign, I received a question about low-income pensioners in Helsinki, phrased like this:
“What do you think about the situation of a single pensioner trying to get by with an income of less than €1,300, housing costs of €800–900, and €50–60/month in medication expenses (out-of-pocket)? That leaves only €10–12 per day for food and other necessities.”
I will reach retirement age myself in ten years. However, I don’t have direct personal experience with this kind of life situation. Still, €10 a day for food and everything else is not much, regardless of circumstances. So I decided to look into what types of support a low-income pensioner can receive from Kela and the City of Helsinki.
For someone living alone on a below-median pension, Kela’s General Housing Allowance (https://www.kela.fi/general-housing-allowance) can help ease the burden. In this example, the person could receive about €150/month. Those with even lower incomes may be eligible for the Housing Allowance for Pensioners (https://www.kela.fi/housing-allowance-for-pensioners). Unfortunately, the current government plans to cut these supports, which would only worsen the situation.
If the pensioner is disabled or chronically ill, they can also apply for Care Allowance for Pensioners (https://www.kela.fi/care-allowance-for-pensioners), which aims to support daily life, functioning, rehabilitation, and care needs.
If pensions and the above-mentioned supports are still not enough to cover basic expenses—such as food, medication, and housing—it is possible to apply for basic social assistance, which is tax-free (https://www.kela.fi/social-assistance-can-you-get-it).
In addition to this basic support, the City of Helsinki can grant supplementary and preventive social assistance for special expenses or situations not covered by the basic support (https://www.hel.fi/en/health-and-social-services/social-support-and-financial-assistance/finances-work-ability-and-livelihood/supplementary-or-preventive-social-assistance). These could include, for example, special health care costs or other individual needs. Applications are submitted through the city’s social services.
Help with applying for these benefits is available to lonely pensioners through Kela’s customer service, Helsinki’s social advisory services, both of which are free by phone or in-person, and from various non-profit organizations, some of which are supported by the city.
If one is able to apply independently or with help, they’re already in a relatively good position. The most vulnerable are those living alone and possibly suffering from memory-related illnesses, who for one reason or another don’t receive enough help or support.
A Livable Income Alone Doesn’t Guarantee a Good Old Age
Other essentials for a good and safe life in old age include:
- Access to home care
- Enough round-the-clock care facilities
- Accessible housing
- Availability of healthcare services
- Proper winter maintenance of walking and cycling paths
- High-quality public transport
- Well-functioning community service centers.
All of these are especially important for low-income pensioners, and I will cover them in future posts.
Image: There are about 120,000 people aged 65 or older in Helsinki, and the number of those over 75 is set to increase significantly in the future. The city must take greater responsibility for the well-being and safety of low-income pensioners.
📷 Source: City of Helsinki Budget 2025 (https://www.hel.fi/static/helsinki/talousarvio/helsingin-kaupungin-talousarvio-2025.pdf), p. 21, in Finnish.