Application

New clients

Clients having already obtained income support

Application is made in writing

Handling and payment

Decision and appeal

New clients

When you are applying for income support (social assistance) for the first time in Tampere, or when you have not been benefiting from the income support for over two years, you have to arrange your appointment in Sarvis Social Welfare Office.

Applications for income support are handled by social workers or benefit assessors, together with the client at an appointed time or on the basis of a written application.

Booking an appointment and advice:
- Tel. 03 5657 4900, Monday to Thursday 9 - 11 and 12 - 14, Friday 9 - 11 or
- by coming to Sarvis, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9 - 14, Wednesday and Friday 9 - 12

Telephone calling time for social workers and benefit assessors:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 12 - 13, tel. 03 5657 4900 (switchboard).

Notice!
Concerning both individuals with a refugee background and return migrants; income support issues are handled by the Foreigners office.
Clients with a refugee background rely on social services of the Foreigners office for three years and return migrants for six months following the date of actual moving to Finland.

Clients having already obtained income support

The mail box is placed near the main entrance door of the Income support unit.

The written applications for income support made by others than new clients are handled in the Income support unit.

Income support cannot be applied for by email; applications must be sent by post to the following address:
Tampereen kaupunki
Hyvinvointipalvelut/Toimeentulotuki
Hatanpäänkatu 3 F
33900 Tampere

Applications for income support can also be left in the mail box placed near the main entrance door of the Income support unit in the address Hatanpäänkatu 3 F (Kanta-Sarvis 2).
The envelope has to bear the mention "Toimeentulotuki" (Income support) or "Toimeentulotuen yksikkö" (Income support unit).

• Hatanpäänkatu 3 F (Kanta-Sarvis 2)

Issues are handled with the presence of the client in the Income support unit only in special cases: the benefit assessor considers whether the presence of the client is required or not to handle the case.

The telephone guidance for clients of the Income support unit:
03 5657 0005, Mon - Fri at 12 - 14

Income support clients of the social welfare office for families with children and those for adults

The social workers for the families with children and those for adults handle the applications for income support only if it has been agreed upon separately with the client.
Separate agreement concerns, among others, persons less than 25-years of age who do not have any vocational education.

In other cases, the applications for income support have to be delivered to the Income support unit. Envelopes containing applications for income support for the intention of social workers of social welfare offices have to bear the name of the social welfare office and that of the social worker to ensure that the mail is delivered to the right place for the handling.

Application is made in writing

Toimeentulotukihakemus, The application is available only in Finnish (pdf, 333 KB)

The applications for income support are handled in writing to ensure that their handling is as uniform as possible. The personnel of the social welfare offices guide and give advice relating to the issue.
A decision on income support covering several months can be issued to some clients; income support is calculated for several months in advance.

The granted income support will be transferred into the client’s bank account monthly, on the first banking day of the month. If any changes occur in the client’s situation – for example, concerning client’s income – during the period of validity of the income support, the client has to inform about them immediately so that the decision can be revised (Income support Act § 17). In other case, the changed information about income and expenses will be revised in the next decision.

Explanations on the income and expenses as well as the bank statements concerning the period of validity of the income support are sent afterwards with the following application. The word ”liitteet” (enclosures) is followed by the list and explanations of the documents you are required to enclose and send along with the application form.

Further information can be obtained from the booking services of the social welfare offices.

Handling and payment

The aim is to handle the application without any delay. The decision is sent by post to the client and the granted income support is transferred into the client’s bank account. An eventual request for additional explanation will delay decision-taking.

Social authorities are bound to professional secrecy and have the right to get information about the client from other authorities. Information is recorded in the client data system of the Department of Social Affairs and Health Care.

Decision and appeal

The decision on the income support has to be made in writing and it is usually sent to the client by post. The granted income support is transferred into the client’s bank account.

If the client is not satisfied with the decision, s/he has the right to appeal against it. The decision on the income support includes the instructions on appeal procedures.