Fixed-term disability pension, i.e. cash rehabilitation benefit

When can I apply for a cash rehabilitation benefit?

The cash rehabilitation benefit is preceded by sickness allowance paid by Kela. It is paid for up to 300 working days. If the services available to you from Kela or vocational rehabilitation are insufficient for you to be able to return to work, the rehabilitation benefit may be an option for you.

You can apply for cash rehabilitation benefit if

• you are at least 17 years old and have not yet reached your minimum retirement age and
• your work ability has deteriorated continuously for at least one year due to illness, defect or injury.

When you apply for the cash rehabilitation benefit, we will also review whether you could benefit from vocational rehabilitation. If the conditions for rehabilitation are met, you will also receive a decision on vocational rehabilitation. If the prerequisites for vocational rehabilitation are not met, you will only receive a pension decision.

The amount of the cash rehabilitation benefit

The cash rehabilitation benefit consists of the pension accrued before the start of disability and a projected pension component. The amount of the cash rehabilitation benefit is the same as the amount of disability pension. See the estimated amount of your rehabilitation benefit using the disability pension calculator in MyPension.

If you already receive a partial early old-age pension, you cannot make an estimate. Please contact our customer service for a pension estimate.

Applying for the cash rehabilitation benefit

The cash rehabilitation benefit and disability pension are applied for with the same application. If your work ability deteriorates when you are on partial disability pension and you want to apply for the rehabilitation benefit, you must fill in the disability pension application.

To apply for the cash rehabilitation benefit, do this:

1. Get a Medical Statement B
2. Fill in the disability pension application in the MyPension service about three months before your sickness allowance period ends. Attach a Medical Statement B that is no more than six months old to your application. Please only submit the official Medical Statement B. We cannot process your case based on photos or screenshots taken of MyKanta or texts from the Kanta archive. Please note that Ilmarinen does not have access to MyKanta.
3. Once your application has arrived, we will assess your right to a pension and you will receive a decision within approximately two months. If necessary, we will ask you for additional information for processing the application.

Read more detailed instructions on applying and processing of the application

Remember to apply for an extension to the cash rehabilitation benefit if necessary

The cash rehabilitation benefit is a fixed-term pension. If your cash rehabilitation benefit ends and your work ability has not been restored, you can apply for an extension to the cash rehabilitation benefit.

A pension extension can be granted

• as a fixed-term continuation of the cash rehabilitation benefit if your work ability has continued to decrease for a fixed term
• as a permanent disability pension if your work ability has decreased permanently

We do not need a new pension application when you apply for an extension. It is enough to provide us with a new Medical Statement B describing your current health status. Deliver it to us in MyPension. A new Medical Statement B should be submitted approximately two months before the end of the cash rehabilitation benefit.

If you also receive a rehabilitation allowance from Kela, we will submit a new Medical Statement B to Kela on your behalf.

When you receive a decision on the cash rehabilitation benefit

Once we have processed your application and the decision has been issued, we will send you a text message.

If you have consented to e-services, your pension decision can only be read in MyPension. If you have not given your consent, the decision will be sent to you by post. Please make sure that your contact information is up to date in MyPension.

Please note that you are not entitled to an earnings-related pension card when you receive the cash rehabilitation benefit or partial cash rehabilitation benefit.

The cash rehabilitation benefit is determined in the same way as the disability pension in terms of the start and amount of the pension.

Read more about the disability pension decision

Did you receive a decision on vocational rehabilitation in connection with your pension decision?

Vocational rehabilitation is the primary option as work ability deteriorates. We will help you return to work in a way that suits your health. 

If you have received a decision on vocational rehabilitation, you can already plan your return to work, for example through a work try-out, while receiving the cash rehabilitation benefit.

If the prerequisites for vocational rehabilitation are not met, you will only receive a pension decision.

Read more about vocational rehabilitation

Working while on the cash rehabilitation benefit or partial cash rehabilitation benefit

You can work as an employee or as an entrepreneur on the cash rehabilitation benefit or partial cash rehabilitation benefit.

Read about working during retirement

Read about entrepreneurship during retirement