With the Helsinki benefit, you can promote your employment into a full- or part-time job. The subsidy is paid to the employer and can be used to cover a part of the hiring expenses.
The subsidy may be granted for a permanent or fixed-term employment relationship and apprenticeship training.
You can utilise the Helsinki benefit if you are a jobseeker and a resident of Helsinki and you have been granted one of the following:
- pay subsidy
- employment subsidy for ages 55 and above
- Helsinki benefit card.
Contact Helsinki Employment Services
You can contact Helsinki Employment Services through e-services, by phone and by email.
Use the online service
Sign in and visit Job Market Finland's E-services
Send us an email
Send an email
Helsinki Employment Services' email address.
Call us
Call Helsinki Employment Services
Fill in a form
Helsinki Employment Services' forms
Online information
Helsinki Employment Services for personal customers
Send us mail
Contact us by post
How can I utilise the Helsinki benefit as a jobseeker?
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Make sure that you are eligible for the Helsinki benefit
Ask our specialist about the possibility of receiving the Helsinki benefit. You can submit a contact request in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service).
Employment Services can issue you a Helsinki benefit card if we estimate that you belong to the target group of the Helsinki benefit.
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Look for jobs
Search for employers and jobs that interest you. Once you have found a job that interests you, tell your employer about the possibility of receiving the Helsinki benefit.
Visit the Search for jobs site for tips on searching for work.
The employer can find information on financial benefits and applying for them on the financial support for the employers page.
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Sign an employment contract
The employer can only apply for the Helsinki benefit once you have signed the employment contract.
The employer must attach the following to their Helsinki benefit application:
- signed employment contract
- signed consent of the processing of personal data for applying for the Helsinki benefit
- pay subsidy decision, decision on employment subsidy for people over 55 and above or the Helsinki benefit card.
If the benefit is applied for based on apprenticeship training, the apprenticeship contract must also be attached to the application.
Frequently asked questions about the Helsinki benefit
The maximum amount of the benefit is €800/month. The benefit is paid to the employer for wage costs.
The Helsinki benefit is applied for for the duration of the employment for a maximum period of 12 months. For a pay-subsidised apprenticeship, the Helsinki benefit can be granted for the entire duration of the apprenticeship training period. The benefit is requested for 12 months at a time.
The Helsinki benefit is paid to the employer, who will then pay you a salary according to the employment contract. The salary must be reasonable or in accordance with the collective agreement.
The Helsinki benefit can be applied for by businesses, associations and communities that are looking to employ an unemployed job seeker living in Helsinki or improve such a person’s professional skills.
You can mention the possibility of receiving the Helsinki benefit and/or pay subsidy in a job application or job interview, for example. The Helsinki benefit and the pay subsidy are always an incentive for the employer to hire you. The texts listed below are examples that you can edit to suit your purposes.
You can write the following in your application, for example:
“When you hire me, you have the advantage of and have the opportunity to apply for support for wage costs in the form of pay subsidy or the Helsinki benefit. Read more about the support on the City of Helsinki website."
At the end of the job interview you can say something to the effect of:
“If you decide to choose me for this job, you have the advantage of and the opportunity to apply for support for wage costs. The support is an added extra to having a skilled and motivated worker. You can read more about the support on the City of Helsinki website."
You can receive the Helsinki benefit card after your service needs have been assessed by the City of Helsinki Employment Services. The card supports jobseeking by letting potential employers know that the jobseeker meets the conditions of the Helsinki benefit.
Ask our specialist about the possibility of the Helsinki benefit. You can submit a contact request in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service).