This includes students who have fallen below the threshold of earning 20 credits per academic year or 5 credits per month of aid.

Kela encourages students to respond to the inquiry promptly, either via paper mail or through the OmaKela online portal, depending on their preference. Anne Jääskeläinen, coordinator of Kela’s Student Financial Aid Section, emphasized the importance of responding:

"If you receive a request for further information, it’s crucial to explain any difficulties you've faced in your studies. We understand that not everyone’s academic journey goes as planned," Jääskeläinen said.

Students are advised to check their study records to ensure that all completed credits have been recorded before replying to Kela. Missing credits should be updated with the educational institution and mentioned in the response.

Students who have faced challenges such as illness, family issues, or particularly demanding study modules can explain these circumstances to Kela. If the reasons are deemed valid, financial aid may continue despite slower-than-expected academic progress.

However, students who fail to respond to the request by the deadlines—4 October 2024 for upper secondary students and 25 October 2024 for higher education students—risk having their financial aid stopped as of 1 January 2025.

Jääskeläinen advises students to act quickly: “The sooner you reply, the sooner you will know if your financial aid will continue, making it easier to plan your finances for the next academic year.”

For those who do lose their financial aid, Kela provides the option to reapply once the required academic progress has been made.

HT