The Finnish state benefits agency Kela seeks to recover money from around 25,000 students who exceeded the annual income limit for financial aid in 2023.
Kela announced its plans to recover 26.3 million euros in overpaid financial aid. This means that on average, each student must pay 1,023 euros back to Kela. Any recovered financial aid is subject to a surcharge of 7.5 percent.
Student financial aid is subject to recovery if the recipient's income surpasses a specified threshold. Income thresholds have risen in recent years, resulting in fewer recoveries.
According to Senior Coordinator Ilpo Lahtinen of Kela’s Student Financial Aid Section, the annual income limits for student financial aid were raised by 50 percent in 2022 and 2023.
“As a result, the number of preliminary recovery decisions on overpaid financial aid has fallen from 47,000 to 25,000,” he said.
In 2023, this limit was set at 18,720 euros for those receiving aid over nine months.
Students who receive a preliminary recovery decision must repay the overpaid amount by 15 April or contact Kela before the due date to arrange alternative payment options.
The agency said the annual income check performed now only concerns student financial aid, i.e. study grants and housing supplements. It does not apply to the general housing allowance.
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