KELA

KELA, or Kansaneläkelaitos (in Finnish), also FPA or Folkpensionsanstalten (in Swedish) Social Insurance Institute (SII in English), is a Finnish government agency in charge of payment for the national social security programs. It was founded in 1937 to handle retirement pay, but in the 1980s and 1990s its role was expanded to handle other fields like child benefits, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits and health insurance.

Despite the use of the word "insurance" in the English translation, KELA is funded directly from taxation, not from insurance premiums. Coverage under the scheme is given to all permanent residents of Finland.

External link

 * - Official site

KELA Kansaneläkelaitos