Temporary flexibility in YEL contributions

You can temporarily pay your YEL contributions flexibly if your financial situation requires it. You can increase your pension by paying an additional contribution. You can also choose to temporarily reduce your contribution.

Adjust your YEL contribution using the flexibility option

You can use the flexibility option once in a calendar year, and the flexibility covers the whole year. You can pay higher insurance contributions every year, but lowering the insurance contributions is only possible a maximum of three times in a seven-year period.

Improve your pension security by paying an additional contribution (upward flexibility)

The YEL contribution flexibility option allows you to accrue more pension by paying higher YEL contributions (10–100%). The payment of additional contributions does not affect your social security benefits other than your pension. Your other social security benefits, such as the allowances paid by Kela, will still be based on your confirmed YEL income.

You can fill in the flexibility application in our self-employed person’s online service. When you apply for flexibility, the service will tell you how much you can either increase or reduce your contributions. At the turn of the year, apply for flexibility well in time, so that you are able you to pay the bill within the year for which you apply for flexibility.

Reduce the contribution (downward flexibility)

You can temporarily reduce the YEL contribution (10–20%). If you use the flexibility option, your pension changes too. The temporary reduction of your contributions does not affect your social security benefits other than your pension. Your other social security benefits, such as the allowances paid by Kela, will still be based on your confirmed YEL income.

You can fill in the flexibility application in our self-employed person’s online service. When you apply for flexibility, the service will tell you how much you can either increase or reduce your contributions.

You can use the YEL contribution flexibility option if

  • your insurance is in force for the entire calendar year with the same employment pension insurance company
  • you do not have any outstanding YEL contribution payments
  • you do not receive the reduction for new entrepreneurs
  • you do not draw a pension under the earnings-related pension acts (including part-time pension and partial old-age pension).

If your YEL income changes or your insurance ends during the calendar year, the flexibility option is cancelled.

  1. Applying for flexibility in YEL contributions

    You can apply for flexibility in YEL contributions in the self-employed person’s online service.

    Log in to self-employed person's online service