In 2025, thousands of students exceeded their income limit for financial aid, with about 34,500 needing to repay aid by April 30, 2026, to avoid a 7.5% increase in owed amounts to Kela, the Finnish social security agency notes in a statement.

Last year, over 22,000 students voluntarily repaid about €18.3 million, and a higher figure is expected this year due to increased aid distributions.

Students not repaying by the deadline will face recovery in February 2027, losing the ability to reuse their aid months.

“Students who have exceeded their annual income limit can save a significant amount of money if they pay back financial aid they got in the first half of 2025 on their own volition,” said Else Turtiainen, the coordinator in Kela’s student financial aid section.

They can check their income limits via the OmaKela e-service or Kela’s website.

Changes to housing benefits on August 1, 2025, mean students should prioritize repaying early 2025 aid to minimize costs.

Kela notifies students of excess aid via text or email, and students can easily repay through OmaKela, which provides a summary of their income and repayment options.