Finland’s social security agency paid more than two billion euros in housing benefits last year.
Young adults were the largest group receiving Finland’s general housing allowance last year, according to new figures from benefits agency Kela.
The allowance is mainly intended for unemployed people and low-income households.
The number of recipients fell sharply during the year after students were moved from general housing allowance back to the student housing supplement.
In December, over 240,000 households received general housing allowance, about 142,000 fewer than a year earlier. At the same time, the number receiving the student housing supplement rose to 147,000, up from just 7,300 the previous year.
In total, Kela paid out just over two billion euros in housing benefits during 2025. Of that sum, 1.2 billion euros went to general housing allowance, while 165 million euros was paid through the student housing supplement.
In addition, 460 million euros of Kela’s basic social assistance payments went towards housing costs. Combined, housing benefits and housing-related assistance totalled around 2.5 billion euros last year.
