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Appeals

If you are dissatisfied with a decision made by the unemployment fund, you can appeal it to the Social Security Appeal Board. You cannot appeal an opinion issued by the TE Office. If you disagree with the TE Office’s opinion, the appeal must still be directed against the decision made by the fund. You can request a change by appealing the unemployment fund’s decision. The appeal is submitted to the unemployment fund.

If the unemployment fund cannot change its decision, we will refer your appeal to the Social Security Appeal Board.

Appeal period

The appeal must arrive at the unemployment fund within thirty (30) days after you received notice of the decision. You are considered to have received notice of the decision within seven (7) days after the decision was mailed to your reported address (the first day is the day after mailing). If the decision was sent electronically, you are considered to have received notice of the decision on the date when you opened the decision.

How to appeal

Appeals must always be made in writing. The appeal is addressed to the Social Security Appeal Board but delivered to the unemployment fund. Appeals cannot be made by phone.

You can deliver the appeal to the unemployment fund in person or via an attorney or by mail or courier. Written appeals can also be submitted online in the messaging service in Nettikassa.

In your appeal, include the following:

  • the decision (decision number) you are appealing
  •  date when you received notice of the decision
  • parts of the decision you want changed
  • the changes you are requesting
  • reasons why you are appealing the decision
  • your name, municipality of residence, postal address and phone number in order for us to contact you about your appeal and its processing

If you have a legal representative or attorney, or if the appeal was made by someone other than yourself, include the person's contact information (name, municipality, postal address and phone number) and the power of attorney with your appeal. In the appeal, include the original or a copy of the unemployment fund’s decision as an attachment. Also include as attachments any documents you refer to in your appeal unless you have already submitted these to the fund. You can also submit additional documents and information later.

Appealing a decision based on an opinion

  • The fund will ask in writing that the authority that issued the opinion (TE Office/municipality) give a new opinion/response in light of the appeal.
  • If the appealed opinion is not changed, the unemployment fund will refer the appeal to the Social Security Appeal Board (SAMU) as the first instance. In this case, you will also receive a hearing letter and copies of the fund’s letter to the appeal board and the response by the party that issued the opinion on your appeal.
  • If the opinion is changed, the unemployment fund will reconsider the matter and reverse the previous decision. You will then receive a new written decision.

Appealing for another reason

  • After receiving the appeal, the fund reviews that the issued decision was made correctly.
  • If necessary, the fund will revise its decision and send you the new written decision.
  • If no changes are necessary, the fund will refer the appeal to the Social Security Appeal Board (SAMU). In this case, you will also receive a hearing letter and a copy of the fund’s letter to the appeal board. The appeal board will issue a written decision on the appeal and send copies of the decision to the unemployment fund and you.
  • If the appealed decision is reversed:
    • The unemployment fund will reconsider the application and issue a new decision following the decision by the appeal board
    • Alternatively, the unemployment fund can appeal the board’s decision to the Insurance Court (VAKO), in which case you will be notified and receive a hearing letter.
  • If the appeal is rejected:
    • You can appeal the appeal board’s decision to the Insurance Court (VAKO) as the second instance by sending an appeal to the unemployment fund.
    • The fund will ask in writing that the authority that issued the opinion (TE Office/municipality) give a new opinion/response in light of the appeal.
    • If the previous opinion is not changed, the unemployment fund refers the appeal to the Insurance Court (VAKO) as the second instance. In this case, you will also receive a hearing letter and copies of the fund’s letter to VAKO and the response by the party that issued the opinion on your appeal. VAKO will issue a written decision on the appeal and send copies of the decision to the unemployment fund and you.