Kela informs: Financial aid may be recovered from over 28,000 students

AI-generated summary of Kela’s press release: 

Over 28,000 students may have to pay back student financial aid to Kela because their 2024 income exceeded the annual income limit. The average amount to be repaid is EUR 1,087, and a 7.5% surcharge is added to recovered amounts. In total, Kela aims to recover EUR 30.7 million, sending about 2,500 more notices this year than last year.

Students must repay by 15 April 2026, but payment plans are available through Kela, including options for instalments or benefit set-off. If students started or graduated in 2024, they can ask for a review of their repayment decision—income earned outside the study period may reduce or eliminate the amount to be repaid.

Students are responsible for monitoring their own income to avoid exceeding the limit. If a student realizes their income is too high, they should voluntarily cancel or repay aid before Kela recovers it, to avoid the 7.5% surcharge and the loss of financial aid months. Aid can be repaid or cancelled via OmaKela, and voluntary repayments for 2025 must be made by 30 April 2026. The 2025 income check will take place at the beginning of 2027.

Read the full press release about the recovery of student financial aid on Kela’s website.