VYY made a statement on the amendment of the laws on student livelihood

Currently, students are covered by the general housing allowance in addition to the study allowance. Since 2017, the general housing allowance has provided students with a stable and predictable income, including for the summer months. The amendment proposes to transfer students from the general housing allowance back to the housing supplement for students. The student housing allowance is part of the student financial aid and is fully linked to the student financial aid. This means that the housing supplement is only available for the months during which the student is entitled to study support. 

The Student Union of the University of Vaasa opposes the transfer of students from the general housing allowance back to the student housing supplement.

Particularly detrimental to the housing supplement is the challenge of living and making ends meet during the summer. No student support is granted for the summer months, which would leave the student without any housing support. However, students also need a home during the summer. Not all students have summer jobs or summer studies in their field of study, so it may not be worthwhile to use the months of study support for non-differentiated studies.

If a student is unable to study or work during the summer, the only option to ensure a summer income is KELA's basic social assistance. When applying for basic social assurance, the student loan is counted as student income, even if the student has not drawn it. Applying for basic income support is an administratively burdensome process which places an unnecessary burden on KELA, especially as it is a support which should be of the last resort and is not suitable to support students during the summer.

At the same time, student support is becoming more loan-centred. Indeed, students are the only group of people who are expected to cover their living costs with debt. The combination of increased debt intensity and the reform of the housing allowance creates financial insecurity and negatively affects students' well-being and mental health. Cuts will thus also target precisely those low-income and already disadvantaged students.

The Student Union of the University of Vaasa demands that if the transfer to the housing allowance is implemented, the number of months of study support should be increased by at least six (6) months. This would also enable some students to secure their income during the summer if, for example, they do not have sufficient income from summer work. 

However, if the students were to be transferred to the housing supplement, it would be a good thing that the supplement would be linked to the national pension index. 

VYY’s statement in Finnish is linked to our website and the request for statements can be found in Finnish on the Statement service website maintained by the Finnish Ministry of Justice.

Maria Saita

Member of the Board, Municipal affairs

Emma Lehtonen

Chair of the Board