• General information on the service

    Front-line veterans are persons who participated in the Finnish wars in 1939–1944. Services for front-line veterans are mostly organised by municipalities.

    Every year, the State Treasury grants municipalities appropriations for rehabilitation and at-home services. The appropriations are granted in relation to the number of veterans living in each municipality. Municipal outpatient services are compensated to the municipalities in advance based on the Military Injuries Act, which means that the municipalities estimate their need for appropriations in advance. The funds are balanced the following year by paying the deficit to the municipality or collecting the excess amount.

    Services for disabled war veterans, which means those injured in war, are organised in other ways.

  • Residential rehabilitation

    Front-line veterans can be granted annual residential rehabilitation as follows:

    Residential rehabilitation (functional capacity class III): Up to 10 days per calendar year.
    Residential rehabilitation for front-line veterans with an injury or illness which disturbs their ability to function (functional capacity class I or II): 2–4 weeks per calendar year, where justifiable based on the objectives of the rehabilitation.

    Residential rehabilitation for front-line veterans and their spouses

    The spouse of a front-line veteran can participate in residential rehabilitation with their spouse in the same care institution as follows:

    Spouse of a front-line veteran in functional capacity class III: Simultaneously, at the same rehabilitation and care institution as the veteran, up to 10 days.
    Spouse of a front-line veteran in functional capacity class I or II: Simultaneously, at the same rehabilitation and care institution as the veteran, up to 14 days.

    The shared residential rehabilitation period of a front-line veteran and their spouse can be carried out as follows, for example:

    Functional capacity class III: Front-line veteran 10 days. Spouse simultaneously for up to 10 days.
    Functional capacity class I and II: Front-line veteran up to 4 weeks. Spouse simultaneously for up to 2 weeks.

    The rehabilitation period of the spouse cannot be longer than the period of the front-line veteran.

    Objective of the shared rehabilitation period

    The need and appropriateness of the shared rehabilitation period is assessed and the rehabilitation decision made by the referring health centre or a representative appointed by the municipality. The shared rehabilitation period aims to promote the success of the rehabilitation of the front-line veteran, and to support their coping at home by supporting the coping of the spouse, for example.

    Participation of the spouse does not shorten the rehabilitation period of the front-line veteran. The person who makes the rehabilitation decision assesses the duration, need, and appropriateness of the rehabilitation period. Both spouses must be willing to participate in the shared rehabilitation period.

  • Intensive outpatient rehabilitation

    Front-line veterans can be granted annual intensive outpatient rehabilitation as follows:

    Intensive outpatient rehabilitation for front-line veterans in functional capacity class III and their spouse: Up to 10 days per calendar year.
    Intensive outpatient rehabilitation for front-line veterans in functional capacity class I or II and their spouse: Up to 20 days per calendar year.

    The rehabilitation period of the spouse cannot be longer than the period of the front-line veteran.

    Objective of the shared rehabilitation period

    The need and appropriateness of the shared rehabilitation period is assessed and the rehabilitation decision made by the referring health centre or a representative appointed by the municipality. The shared rehabilitation period aims to promote the success of the rehabilitation of the front-line veteran, and to support their coping at home by supporting the coping of the spouse, for example.

    Participation of the spouse does not shorten the rehabilitation period of the front-line veteran. The person who makes the rehabilitation decision assesses the duration, need, and appropriateness of the rehabilitation period. Both spouses must be willing to participate in the shared rehabilitation period.

  • Outpatient rehabilitation

    Spouses are not entitled to outpatient rehabilitation.

    If a front-line veteran has an injury or illness which reduces their functional capacity, they can be granted outpatient rehabilitation as follows:

    Outpatient rehabilitation to front-line veterans in functional capacity class III: Up to 20 visits per calendar year.
    Outpatient rehabilitation for front-line veterans in functional capacity class I or II: Up to 30 visits per calendar year.

    The outpatient rehabilitation can be organised as follows, for example:

    • Front-line veteran in functional capacity class III:
      two series of ten sessions of outpatient rehabilitation
    • Front-line veteran in functional capacity class I or II:
      three series of ten sessions or two series of 15 sessions of outpatient rehabilitation

    The durations of the rehabilitation are defined in the decree on front-line veteran rehabilitation.

    Application forms and information on travel expenses can be found on the Applying tab.

  • Services to support living at home

    The services to support living at home are intended to support in many ways the coping at home of a front-line veteran. The appropriations are used for services supporting independence and for covering the related costs.
    The services must be based on a service needs assessment. The income of the veteran is not examined, as the need for service is decisive.

    The municipality functions as the responsible organiser of services to support living at home. The municipality may produce the services internally or acquire them from a selected service provider. The services can also be organised utilising service vouchers. In order for a service voucher to be used, the front-line veteran must be able to acquire the services independently or with the help or a family member using the service voucher.

    If appropriations are available, services to support living at home can also be offered to front-line veterans who live in service housing or enhanced supported housing. These services could include cleaning, meal, transportation, or care services. Rent or electrical and water fees are not compensated. Veterans living in family care or a group home can also be offered services to support living at home.

    Interval care is a form of institutional care, and its expenses are not compensated.

  • Front-line veterans’ allowance to foreign voluntary front-line soldiers

    The front-line veterans’ allowance can be granted to a foreign voluntary front-line soldier who

    • served as a volunteer in the Finnish wars and
    • is a permanent resident of Russia, Estonia, or another former Soviet area and whose financial circumstances are difficult.

    The front-line veterans’ allowance can also be granted to:

    The front-line veterans’ allowance can also be granted to a volunteer who has not applied for the front-line soldier ID of a foreign volunteer but who meets the requirements for acquiring the ID.

    Extent of compensation

    The lump-sum compensation in 2021 is 2,000 euros.

    Applying

    The compensation must be applied for by the end of 2021.

    The front-line veterans’ allowance is applied for using the attached State Treasury forms.

    Application form for front-line veterans’ allowance for volunteers living in Finland (pdf) >
    Application form for front-line veterans’ allowance for volunteers living abroad (pdf) >

  • Rehabilitation of front-line veterans living abroad

    Front-line veterans living abroad can receive rehabilitation either in their country of residence or in Finland. However, they can only receive rehabilitation in Finland if their health permits travelling.

    Residential rehabilitation is available in Pärnu, Estonia, and in Sudbury, Canada.
    Intensive outpatient rehabilitation is available in Sudbury, Canada.
    Outpatient rehabilitation (e.g. physical care) is available where the disabled person lives.

    Applying for rehabilitation, front-line veteran

    Front-line veterans with no permanent residence in Finland shall apply for rehabilitation from the State Treasury using this form: Rehabilitation of front-line veterans

    Forms of rehabilitation

    Front-line veterans who live abroad can be granted annual residential rehabilitation as follows:

    residential rehabilitation (functional capacity class III) up to 10 days per calendar year.
    residential rehabilitation for front-line veterans with an injury or illness which disturbs their ability to function (functional capacity class I or II) 2–4 weeks per calendar year, where justifiable based on the objectives of the rehabilitation.

    Front-line veterans can be granted annual outpatient rehabilitation as follows:

    intensive outpatient rehabilitation up to 10 days per calendar year.
    other outpatient rehabilitation up to 20 visits per calendar year.

    If a front-line veteran has an injury or illness which reduces their functional capacity, they can be granted

    intensive outpatient rehabilitation 20 days per calendar year
    other outpatient rehabilitation up to 30 visits per calendar year.

    The durations of the rehabilitation are defined in the decree on front-line veteran rehabilitation.

    Rehabilitation of front-line veterans living abroad and their spouses

    Front-line veterans residing abroad and their spouses can be granted residential rehabilitation in the country they live in. In addition, front-line veterans residing abroad can be granted outpatient rehabilitation (e.g. physical care). Spouses are not entitled to outpatient rehabilitation and intensive outpatient rehabilitation.

    Residential rehabilitation is available in Pärnu, Estonia, and in Sudbury, Canada.

    The spouse of a front-line veteran can participate in residential rehabilitation with their spouse in the same care institution as follows:

    Spouse of a front-line veteran in functional capacity class III simultaneously, at the same rehabilitation and care institution as the veteran, up to 7 days.
    Spouse of a front-line veteran in functional capacity class I or II simultaneously, at the same rehabilitation and care institution as the veteran, up to 14 days.

    Applying for rehabilitation, spouse

    Apply for rehabilitation from the State Treasury using this form:  Application for rehabilitation, front-line veteran living abroad and spouse >

    Sudbury, Canada

    Spouse of a front-line veteran in functional capacity class III simultaneously, at the same rehabilitation and care institution as the veteran, up to 10 days.

    Travel expenses

    Kela compensates travel expenses caused by rehabilitation using the lowest rate travel method. For travel from abroad, the round-trip expenses can be compensated immediately after the rehabilitation ends, if the front-line veteran provides a sufficient account of the travel expenses (such as a round-trip travel ticket). The compensation is paid by the means decided by Kela, either in cash or to the registered bank account.

    Where is the compensation claimed?

    Veterans who live abroad and participated in rehabilitation in Finland can claim compensation for their travel expenses at any Kela office. Those participating in rehabilitation abroad must claim compensation for their travel expenses at the Karjaa office.

    Send the travel expenses statement to:
    Kela, Karjaa, PO Box 44, 10301 KARJAA, Finland.

  • Application instructions and travel expenses

    Applying for rehabilitation

    Front-line veteran rehabilitation is applied for from the relevant operating unit of the home municipality or joint municipal authority (in practice, most often this is the health centre) using the application form confirmed by the State Treasury. The forms are available at municipal health centres.

    The application for rehabilitation, also for the rehabilitation of a spouse, must be filed by the front-line veteran or a person they authorised. A family member or a social and health care authority can also file a written initiative for rehabilitation.

    Appendices to the claim

    A service needs assessment for the front-line veteran is sufficient to ensure access to rehabilitation. A medical certificate must be acquired if the health of the veteran so requires or if their functional capacity class has not been defined or must be redefined.

    A medical certificate must be appended to the application of a spouse. The certificate must be no older than one year.

    Further information:
    Merja Längman, tel. +358 295 503 239
    Anne Sirén, tel. +358 295 503 248

    Email: firstname.lastname (at) valtiokonttori.fi

    Travel expenses

    Front-line veterans can claim compensation for travel expenses caused by rehabilitation from a Kela office.

    When travelling by taxi, it must always be ordered from the regional Kela service number in order for Kela to compensate for the expenses.

    Kela will compensate the entire necessary travel expenses to the front-line veteran and their spouse who participated in the rehabilitation.

    When claiming compensation for travel expenses, the front-line veteran must present the following to Kela:

    • a rehabilitation payment commitment issued by the municipality, or a copy of the granting decision
    • a declaration of participation in rehabilitation (using a Kela form, for example).

    Further information is available at Kela offices >

  • Application forms

    Application for rehabilitation, front-line veteran living abroad and spouse >