Vocational rehabilitation is an opportunity
Your ability to work and your health may deteriorate so that you are no longer able to do your work properly. If that happens, vocational rehabilitation may help. Its objective is to enable you to continue in working life or return to work after sick leave.
Has your work ability deteriorated so that it impairs your work?
If your work ability deteriorates, there are many good options available to you. See below to find out how to start investigating your situation.
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You should bring up a decline in your work ability or other work-related challenges with your employer as soon as possible. For example, you can discuss the following work accommodation options with your employer:
- working hours arrangements
- modification of work tasks
- assistive devices to make work easier
- division of work
- remote work
- support for arranging working conditions from employment services.
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Challenges related to continuing work may be caused by a decline in health and work ability. Possible therapeutic procedures and examinations should be investigated with a physician. One alternative may be the various rehabilitation options offered by Kela. Read more about Kela’s rehabilitation options (kela.fi)
You can complete a test on the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health website and receive a work ability forecast.
You can also arrange an occupational health negotiation with your employer and physician to consider different ways to continue working.
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Kela’s partial sickness allowance is one way of making it easier to return to work.
Read more about Kela’s partial sickness allowance (kela.fi)You can use Kela’s partial sickness allowance to do your job with reduced working hours (40-60%) for a maximum of 150 days.
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An occupational health care work trial can be used to temporarily modify your work tasks, and your employer will receive compensation for the salary costs from Kela. Get more information from your occupational health care.
When am I entitled to vocational rehabilitation?
If the above measures to promote a return to work are not enough or are not possible for you, see below whether vocational rehabilitation would be a suitable option for you.
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- Deterioration in your work ability limits your work and you are at risk of becoming unable to work in the next few years.
- You have earned at least EUR 42,048.18 in salary or YEL income (at 2025 levels) for the five years preceding your application.
- You have insured earnings according to the Employment Pensions Act during the 36 calendar months preceding your application. The time spent caring for a child under the age of 3 is considered comparable to work when examining earnings.
- Your vocational rehabilitation is appropriate and can support you in continuing to do work that is suitable for your health.
- Your age is below the lowest retirement age.
Apply for vocational rehabilitation and manage your rehabilitation matters in MyPension service
Apply for vocational rehabilitation easily and quickly in MyPension. When you want to apply for rehabilitation, do this:
- Get a Medical Statement B
- Fill in a vocational rehabilitation application in MyPension and attach a Medical Statement B that is no more than six months old to your application. Please note that Ilmarinen does not have access to MyKanta.
- You can also attach an occupational health negotiation memo if you have had an occupational health negotiation with the employer and occupational health care.
- Once you have submitted your application, we will process it and you will receive your decision within approximately one month. You can see the decision in MyPension.
After receiving a decision on rehabilitation, you can manage your own rehabilitation matters in MyPension.
When you apply for a disability pension, 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.
In your rehabilitation plan, explain how you intend to return to work
Once you have received a positive rehabilitation decision, the next step is to draw up a rehabilitation plan. If you already have a rehabilitation plan, send it to us in MyPension. If necessary, your rehabilitation specialist will help you draw up a plan. You can find the contact details for your specialist in your decision.
Your rehabilitation can be one of the following options:
- a work trial
- job coaching
- vocational retraining
- apprenticeship training
- starting up a new business
- a change in business activities
- a business subsidy for self-employment
When we receive your rehabilitation plan, we will assess it and you will receive a decision.
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Rehabilitation allowance as income during vocational rehabilitation
You will be paid rehabilitation allowance when the plan for your return to work is ready, we have agreed on it together and you begin, for example, a work trial or studies. You can also receive reimbursements for expenses during your vocational rehabilitation.
Read more about the rehabilitation allowance -
How does your vocational rehabilitation progress at Ilmarinen?
Once you have applied for vocational rehabilitation and received a decision, think about a plan for your return to work. Your rehabilitation specialist will help you every step of the way.
Read more about how vocational rehabilitation progresses