N.B! Persons who go to Ukraine as volunteer fighters are not covered by the Military Accident Act and therefore cannot receive compensation for military accidents in the event of a possible injury or illness.
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Service description
If you were injured in an accident during your military or non-military service or became sick with an illness that was caused by your service, the Defence Forces or the place of your non-military service will take care of your treatment during your service.
After your service has ended, the State Treasury is responsible for the cost of the treatment for your injury or service-related illness as well as any other statutory compensations.
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Preconditions for receiving compensation
You are entitled to compensation (e.g. medical expenses and compensation for loss of income) if your case meets the conditions laid down in the act on compensation for a military accident and service-related illness.
You are entitled to compensation if the accident took place while
* in military service
* in non-military service
* on a military refresher course
* as a cadet
* on certain courses at the National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK).If you are unable to handle your compensation matters yourself, you can give power of attorney to a person you trust. You can send the power of attorney by email to vahko.sotilaat@valtiokonttori.fi or attach it to your compensation application.
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What to do
To receive the compensation, you must submit an application to the State Treasury. First, file an electronic notification of a military accident to the State Treasury either yourself or together with a person appointed by the garrison.
Then, register as a user of the Suomi.fi Messages service. When you are a user of the Suomi.fi Messages, the State Treasury’s services are quicker to use. You can contact the State Treasury customer service via the Suomi.fi Messages service.
You can also use the chat or secure mail, or call. Please see Customer service – Military accidents/Non-military service accidents
If you are unable to * work or
* register as unemployed or
* study after your service due to your injury or illness, acquire a doctor’s certificate regarding your reduced working capacity.Remember that you will not receive your compensation from the State Treasury until after your service has ended.
If your accident is already being processed by the State Treasury, you can send any additional documents via email or the Suomi.fi Messages service.
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Compensation for accidents and service diseases
If you are injured, you will be compensated for
- the required medical care,
- rehabilitation related to medical care and functional capacity (e.g. physical therapy),
- loss of income,
- permanent disability, and
- if necessary, occupational rehabilitation, if you are unable to return to your previous job or place of study.
Starting on 1 January 2019, a lump sum additional compensation is paid for permanent general disability due to injury or illness caused by an accident. The maximum additional compensation according to handicap class 20 is 210,000 euros, and for partial permanent disability, a lump sum of as many twentieths as is deemed by the relevant handicap class is paid. The additional compensation is paid for accidents which occurred on or after 1 January 2019.
The objective is to help you to be rehabilitated and return to your work or studies as soon as possible. The assessing of occupational rehabilitation is started at an earlier stage than before to make it as effective as possible.
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Rehabilitation
The objective is to help you to be rehabilitated and return to your work or studies as soon as possible. In the event of an accident or service-related illness, you may have the possibility of receiving occupational rehabilitation if you are unable to return to your previous job or place of study.
Among others, the following may be supported as occupational rehabilitation:
- research examining the need for rehabilitation
- work trial
- job coaching in a previous or new job
- training for a suitable job or profession and basic education to complete such training;
- aids and equipment for coping at work
The investigation for the possibility of occupational rehabilitation will begin as early as possible. If you have been injured in service and your incapacity for work has lasted for two months, we will investigate your chances of receiving limited occupational rehabilitation.
Limited occupational rehabilitation is implemented together with Verve Kuntoutus. Rehabilitation includes individual guidance and advice related to studies and working life. Rehabilitation is always adapted to your individual needs.
The average duration of rehabilitation is six months.
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Compensation in the event of death
Survivors’ pension
When a conscript’s death is caused by their service, survivors’ pension is paid to their spouse and children.
The survivors’ pension is calculated based on the annual earned income of the deceased. However, the annual earned income is calculated at least as three times the amount of the minimum annual earned income, or 43,080.00 euros in 2019.
Example 1: If the primary beneficiary only leaves behind a widow, their survivors’ pension is 40% of the annual earned income. If the deceased only earned the minimum annual earned income, the amount of compensation in 2019 is 17,232.00 euros. The widow’s own income can also decrease the sum.
Example 2: If the primary beneficiary leaves behind a widow and one child, the widow’s pension is 35% and the child’s pension 25% of the annual earned income. The amounts are affected by the number of children and the widow’s income after the children’s right to survivors’ pension ends.
Funeral allowance
In 2019, the amount of funeral allowance is 4,900.00 euros. The allowance is paid to the estate, if the estate pays the costs of the funeral. If the payer is someone else, they are compensated based on receipts no more than the amount mentioned above.
Financial support
Compensation for the death of a conscript can also be paid based on the act on the financial support following the death of a conscript. This support consists of a basic sum, eventual child increase, and accident increase. The support referred to in the act is intended for the spouse and any children of the deceased under the age of 22.
Additional compensation
Starting on 1 January 2019, an additional compensation can be paid for death caused by military accident or service-related illness. The additional compensation of 200,000 euros is primarily paid to the spouse of the deceased, and 40,000 euros to each of their children under 18. If there are no primary beneficiaries, both parents of the deceased shall be paid a compensation of 20,000 euros. The additional compensation is paid for deaths which occurred on or after 1 January 2019.
Traffic accident
If the death occurred in connection with a traffic accident, the victim may also be entitled to compensation based on the Motor Insurance Act. A reasonable sum of burial and other funeral-related costs can be compensated where not covered by the funeral allowance.
The compensation is based on the Act on Compensation for Military Accidents and Service-Related Illnesses (1521/2016), Workers’ Compensation Act (459/2015), Act on financial support payable following the death of a conscript (1309/1994), and the Motor Insurance Act (460/2016).
