Finland Times

 

File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The amount of housing benefits paid by national social insurance institution Kela has increased significantly.

 

Kela paid 1.7 billion euros in housing subsidies last year, 14 per cent higher than in the previous year. 

 

According to Kela, the housing benefits expenditure has risen seven years in a row.

 

Last year, the amount of general housing benefits paid to single households was also higher than ever before. According to Kela, the increase is due to, for example, the increase in long-term unemployment as well as the legislation which entered into effect last year raising the amount of aid for many. A total of 246,000 households received housing benefits by the end of last year.

 

The amount of Kela housing benefits paid to pensioners also increased last year. About 198,000 people received the benefits. 

 

The housing benefits for students remained at roughly the same level as in the previous year. Last year 151,000 students received housing aid.

 

A total of 820,000 people received housing benefits by the end of last year.