Unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefit from Työttömyyskassa Ote
Salaried members of our member organisations will receive their unemployment benefit through the Työttömyyskassa Ote.
If you are in paid employment, you should also become a member of the Työttömyyskassa Ote. Membership in the unemployment fund is included in your membership fee and, as a member of the fund, you have the opportunity to receive earnings-related unemployment benefits. A student who is not in paid employment at the time of joining the union can join the unemployment fund as soon as their next employment relationship begins. If they wish to do so, self-employed persons can apply for membership of the Entrepreneur Fund.
The benefits paid by the fund are proportionate to earnings and they constitute taxable income for the beneficiary.
If you become unemployed, here’s what to do
- Register as a full-time unemployed job seeker at the Employment and Economic Development Office on your first day of unemployment at the latest. If you are laid off, you need to bring with you a certificate concerning the layoff. Tell the Employment and Economic Development Office the name of your fund, Työttömyyskassa Ote.
- Notify Akava Special Branches of your unemployment or layoff. Make sure now, at the latest, that you have paid your membership fees. The fund will check your membership information with the union before making a decision on the unemployment allowance.
- Claim earnings-related unemployment allowance from the fund within three months of registering at the Employment and Economic Development Office. Please note! Claims for unemployment allowances are mailed to Ote, not the union. More detailed instructions on claiming unemployment allowance are provided on Ote’s website. You can also find an application for earnings-related unemployment allowance on Ote’s website.
More detailed information on unemployment security: ote-kassa.fi/en
Unemployment fund membership fees can also be deducted from taxes next year – but will not appear on the tax card
Labor market organization membership fees can no longer be deducted from taxes starting next year. Due to the change, unemployment fund membership fees are no longer listed on the tax card, although they are still deductible.
Unemployment fund membership fees will, however, be taken into account in the final tax assessment for 2026. The funds will report their membership fees directly to the Tax Administration for the pre-filled tax return for 2026.
Tax Administration announcement on the change
Check the Ote fund’s share of the membership fee here
Unemployment Fund Ote automatically submits information about the paid membership fee to the tax authorities.