Many things change when you turn 18

When you turn 18, your parents' guardianship ends. At that time, access to your bank account will be transferred to you. At the age of 18, you will receive disability services for adults. Being a legal adult, you will also be charged for most health care services.

Parental guardianship ends 

When you turn 18, your parents will no longer automatically be your guardians. If you are unable to manage your own health care or financial matters, for example, you can authorise someone close to you to manage them. If you are unable grant such an authorisation, you will need a guardian. Often, a close person acts with a continuing power of attorney and a public guardian is appointed only as a last resort.

Make sure that you grant the necessary authorisations for acting on your behalf or apply for guardianship in good time before you reach the age of majority. This way, your affairs can continue to be handled smoothly and without interruption. 

Acting on your behalf in various services 

When you authorise someone to act on your behalf, it means that they can handle your affairs. Your trusted person can help you in applying for Kela benefits or in managing social welfare and health care matters.

Read more about acting on behalf of another person in Kela-related matters (Link leads to external service)

Read more about acting on behalf of another person in Maisa and MyKanta

When you turn 18, you will take over access to your bank account. However, if you are unable to use banking services, your parents may continue to manage your financial affairs if you give them a power of attorney to act on your behalf.   

Guardianship 

A person with a disability is not always able to authorise someone close to them to apply for benefits, manage their finances or sign contracts. Acting on behalf of another person requires the person providing the authorisation to be able to draw up the power of attorney and understand its meaning. 

If a person is unable to grant a power of attorney, a guardian may be appointed to manage their financial affairs. A close person or a public guardian may act as the guardian.  

Read more about guardianship on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Link leads to external service)

It may take months to legally secure a guardianship, so it is a good idea to get the process under way in good time before the young person turns 18. 

Supported decision-making 

Everyone has the right to make their own decisions and life choices. Even if you have been appointed a guardian, you can still participate in decision-making that concerns you. You also have the right to receive support for decision-making.  

Changes in disability and health services 

When you turn 18, your disability services will change to services for adults, and you will have new social workers and counsellors. The service points for adults with disabilities are located in Kallio, Vuosaari and Ala-Malmin tori. The services for Swedish-speaking clients of disability services have been centralised to Kallio. 

Find your service point for social work for people with disabilities(Link leads to external service)

If a relative of yours has previously received informal care support, a new application is required when you become a client of services for adults. The informal care support workers will remind you about this.

As an adult, you will also be charged for many health care services that were free of charge to you as a minor.

Read more about client fees and the reduction or non-recovery of fees on the City's website