Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure FI-2021-32/1925 – measures in Finland
Country | Finland , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 01 August 2021 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Measures to prevent social hardship
– Preventing over-indebtedness |
Author | Amanda Kinnunen (Oxford Research) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 30 June 2021 (updated 13 July 2021) |
In Finland, students who graduate on time can receive a deduction to their loan (either directly or through taxes). This deduction is 40% of the amount that exceeds €2,500.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some students have struggled with finishing studies due to the stress and other health issues caused by the turbulent situation. Furthermore, for some students it has been difficult or impossible to find internships or make their final assignments which has prevented them from graduating. As a result, they have risked losing their right to the student loan deduction.
In order to support students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Opintotukilaki (1994/65) - the act that regulates student aid in Finland, has been amended.
The amendment that entered in force in August 2021 means that students who graduate a maximum one semester later than planned, can receive student loan deduction. The student must be able to prove that the delay is caused by COVID-19.
Students must apply for reprocessing of the deduction. This means that a student whose right to the deduction has been rejected by Kela (Finnish social insurance institution), can demand reprocessing. If they can prove that their studies were delayed by maximum one semester due to COVID-19, they get the deduction.
There is no budget for this measure. The maximum amount of deduction an individual student can receive is €7,640.
No information available.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers | Does not apply to businesses |
Youth (18-25)
Other groups of citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Social insurance |
National funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
No information available.
No information available.
Citation
Eurofound (2021), Loan deduction for students who do not graduate on time due to COVID-19, measure FI-2021-32/1925 (measures in Finland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/FI-2021-32_1925.html
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