General information about MYEL pension insurance

Have you been awarded a grant for artistic or scientific work?

If you have been awarded a grant in Finland, your pension insurance is provided by Mela. You have a legal obligation to apply for pension insurance if you meet the following conditions:

• Your grant has been awarded for work lasting at least four months
  • Grant work lasting less than four months can also qualify for pension insurance in certain conditions by adding it to an existing pension policy. Further information: Adding a new grant to an existing insurance policy.
• The amount of your grant when converted into annual income is 4,506 euros or more (2024). Further information: Annual earnings.
• You are not employed by the same body that awarded the grant
• You are between the ages of 18 and 68 but not yet on an old-age pension (for those born in 1957 or earlier, the insurance obligation ends at age 68, for those born between 1958 and 1961, the insurance obligation ends at age 69, for those born in 1962 or later, the insurance obligation ends at age 70)
• You are eligible for the Finnish social security system.

If you are eligible for the Finnish social security system, you also have a legal obligation to take out pension insurance if you perform your grant work outside of Finland, or if you come to Finland to work on a grant. Further information: Working abroad on a grant.

You do not have to take out pension insurance in the following instances:

• You have been awarded a grant for basic degree studies
• Your grant was awarded to cover expenses alone (such as travel grants).