Summer unemployment and fulfilment of the employment condition
One of the most common questions related to summer unemployment concerns the fulfilment of the 12-month employment condition
Many questions about the 12-month employment condition – did you know this?
As summer approaches, we have received numerous questions at the fund regarding the extended 12-month employment condition. The biggest concern is whether the right to earnings-related allowance can arise if the employment relationship has lasted only one school year, that is, less than 12 months. Previously, the employment condition was 26 weeks, so it was easy to fulfil the employment condition during one school year of work.
The good news is that the employment condition does not have to be fulfilled every time — if it has been fulfilled previously, the right to earnings-related allowance can still remain.
Were you unemployed last summer as well?
Many of our members work in fixed-term employment for the school year and are unemployed during the summer. If you were also unemployed during summer 2024 and fulfilled the employment condition then, you may be entitled to earnings-related allowance during summer 2025 as well — even if the employment condition is not fulfilled again this time.
Mika was employed full-time during the 2023–2024 school year and became unemployed in summer 2024. At that time, he applied for earnings-related allowance and fulfilled the 26-week employment condition on June 1, 2024. Based on this, a new 400-day allowance entitlement period began for him, and a new employment condition started to accumulate from June 2, 2024.
After the summer, Mika started a new fixed-term job for the 2024–2025 school year. The job ends on May 31, 2025. Since the length of the employment condition has meanwhile changed to 12 months, Mika will not be able to fulfil the new employment condition before the end of his employment.
However, Mika may still be entitled to earnings-related allowance based on the allowance period that began in summer 2024, as he still has remaining payment days from the 400-day maximum duration.
So remember:
If you were unemployed in summer 2024 and fulfilled the employment condition then, fulfilling the new employment condition in summer 2025 is not generally a requirement for earnings-related allowance.
Applying for earnings-related allowance for the first time?
If you have not previously applied for earnings-related allowance and have not previously fulfilled the employment condition, both the 12-month membership condition and the employment condition must be met before you can become entitled to the allowance.
Kirsi joined the unemployment fund as a member in August 2024 after starting a substitute job for the 2024–2025 school year.
When her employment ends, Kirsi becomes unemployed starting June 1, 2025. Since both the membership and employment conditions are now 12 months long, she will not meet these conditions before her unemployment begins.
In this case, Kirsi cannot receive earnings-related allowance, so she should apply for unemployment benefits from Kela.
Employment condition – what does it actually mean?
The employment condition means that, in order to receive earnings-related allowance, you must have worked enough before becoming unemployed.
Previously, the length of the employment condition was 26 weeks, but in autumn 2024, it changed to 12 calendar months. The condition does not have to be fulfilled through one continuous employment relationship – it can also be accumulated through several shorter periods of work.
Read more about how the employment condition accumulates and how it affects your right to earnings-related allowance on our website under Right to earnings-related allowance.
Unemployed during the summer? Check out our summer pages!
If you are unemployed during the summer, we recommend visiting the summer section of our website. There you’ll find up-to-date information and instructions for applying for earnings-related allowance during the summer period.
You can easily access the summer pages via the button below.
