Extending the reception allowance cut
Act amending the entry into force provision of the act temporarily amending the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings
The previously implemented cut to the reception allowance and spending allowance paid to asylum seekers and beneficiaries of temporary protection will be extended until June 2026. The level of support will remain at its current level until permanent legislative amendments on the matter enter into force.
- Status
- Passed
- Submitted
- 18 Sep 2025
- Latest event
- 21 Nov 2025
- Votes
- 1
- Speeches
- 20
- Confirmed
- 22 Dec 2025
- Statute
- 1403/2025
- Source
- eduskunta.fi ↗
What is proposed
The proposal suggests that the temporary provisions concerning the basic amount of the reception allowance, spending allowance for unaccompanied minors and supplementary reception allowance be extended until 11 June 2026 instead of 31 December 2025. Permanent legislative amendments concerning the amount of the reception allowance and spending allowance are being prepared as part of the national implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and are intended to enter into force on 12 June 2026. The act is intended to enter into force on 1 December 2025.
What it means
The change affects applicants for international protection, beneficiaries of temporary protection (the vast majority of whom are Ukrainians) and victims of human trafficking without a municipality of residence. The basic amount of the reception allowance for a single person remains at 300 euros per month (or 88 euros if meals are provided by the centre) and the spending allowance for a minor at 26 or 47 euros per month depending on age. Extending the reduced level aims to achieve savings of around 1.6 million euros for the state between 1 January and 11 June 2026. In reception centres, the low basic rate keeps the workload for social services and processing separately applied-for supplementary reception allowances high.
How Parliament voted
2nd reading · 18 Nov 2025Parliament passed the act by 105–51.
The Centre voted with the government. 43 MPs were absent. Minutes ↗
Filled dot = yes, ring = no, grey = absent. Point at a dot to see the MP. Seats follow the current seating plan (updated 18 Sep 2026). One MP who voted is not in the current seating plan.
A passed act does not enter into force immediately: the President of the Republic confirms it, and it enters into force on the date set in the act. This act was confirmed on 22 Dec 2025.
Debate in the chamber
What was argued and where each group stood, followed by MPs' speeches verbatim from the parliamentary record. Speeches are shown in their original language.
20 speeches · 3 debates
Key points of the debate
The debate concerned extending the cut to reception allowance for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of temporary protection until summer 2026. The government parties considered the proposal a necessary fiscal savings measure and a tightening of immigration policy. The opposition opposed the proposal, citing the livelihoods of the most vulnerable, humanitarian impacts and an increased need for supplementary assistance.
- Does cutting the reception allowance generate genuine savings, or are costs merely shifted to supplementary reception allowance?
- Is the reduced reception allowance level sufficient to secure the indispensable subsistence needed for a dignified life?
- Is extending the cut fair to Ukrainians fleeing the war and other recipients of protection?
- National Coalition PartyIn favour
The group considered the proposal a practical and responsible transitional solution that keeps the system manageable until permanent legislation takes effect.
”Kokonaisuudessaan tämä on käytännöllinen ja vastuullinen ratkaisu, joka turvaa sekä järjestelmän toimivuuden että yhteiskunnan oikeudenmukaisen kohtelun.”
— Milla Lahdenperä - Finns PartyIn favour
The group supported extending the cut to achieve public savings and reduce pull factors for immigration.
”Esitys on osa julkisen talouden tasapainottamiseksi tehtäviä toimenpiteitä sekä osa edellä mainittua paluun ja maasta poistamisen pakettia.”
— Mari Rantanen - Social DemocratsAgainst
The group called for the bill to be rejected, arguing that the cut falls disproportionately on Ukrainian refugees, among others, and increases the burden on the system.
”Kuten todettu, vastaanottorahan leikkaukset ovat kuitenkin lisänneet täydentävän vastaanottorahan kustannuksia, sillä perusosan pienentäminen on johtanut tämän täydentävän tuen tarpeen kasvuun.”
— Pinja Perholehto - GreensAgainst
The group opposed the cut as an inhumane measure that weakens the livelihoods of vulnerable people and increases bureaucracy in reception centres.
”Tällä esityksellä on merkittäviä inhimillisiä seurauksia ja siihen verrattuna minimaalinen vaikutus julkiseen talouteen.”
— Tiina Elo - Left AllianceAgainst
The group proposed rejecting the act, stating that the reduced last-resort benefit is insufficient for essential expenses and that the savings are cosmetic.
”Esitys on siis kestämätön sekä sosiaalipoliittisesti että eettisesti. Edellä olevalla perusteella ehdotan, että lakiehdotus hylätään.”
— Hanna Sarkkinen - Non-attachedIn favour
The member supported approving the bill in accordance with the committee report.
”Kiitän hallintovaliokuntaa erinomaisesta ja huolellisesta valmistelusta, ja kannatan tätä esitystä.”
This digest was generated by AI from 20 speeches 13 Sep 2026. Group positions are read from the speeches, not from votes; quotations were checked verbatim against the record.
Keskustelu päättyi. Asia lähetettiin hallintovaliokuntaan.
Yleiskeskustelu päättyi. Eduskunta hyväksyi hallituksen esitykseen HE 90/2025 vp sisältyvän lakiehdotuksen sisällön mietinnön mukaisena. Lakiehdotuksen ensimmäinen käsittely päättyi.
Keskustelu päättyi ja asian käsittely keskeytettiin.
Stages of consideration
The bill's path from the preliminary debate to the decision, as recorded by Parliament.
- 18 Sep 2025Eduskuntakäsittelyn vireilletulo · Sisäministeriö
- 1 Oct 2025Lähetekeskustelu · Täysistunto
- 6 Nov 2025Valiokunnan mietintö tai lausunto · hallintovaliokunta
- 12 Nov 2025Ensimmäinen käsittely · Täysistunto
- 19 Nov 2025Toinen käsittely · Täysistunto
- 20 Nov 2025Eduskunnan vastaus ja kirjelmä
Decisions by law proposal1
- 1Laki kansainvälistä suojelua hakevan vastaanotosta sekä ihmiskaupan uhrin tunnistamisesta ja auttamisesta annetun lain väliaikaisesta muuttamisesta annetun lain voimaantulosäännöksen muuttamisestaHyväksytty · 1403/2025 · 22 Dec 2025
Proposed law text
The law proposals in the bill as the Government presented them. The final act may differ after committee consideration.
The law text is shown in Finnish or Swedish from Parliament's official documents; it is not translated into English.
Laki kansainvälistä suojelua hakevan vastaanotosta sekä ihmiskaupan uhrin tunnistamisesta ja auttamisesta annetun lain väliaikaisesta muuttamisesta annetun lain voimaantulosäännöksen muuttamisesta
Eduskunnan päätöksen mukaisesti muutetaan kansainvälistä suojelua hakevan vastaanotosta sekä ihmiskaupan uhrin tunnistamisesta ja auttamisesta annetun lain väliaikaisesta muuttamisesta annetun lain (466/2024) voimaantulosäännös seuraavasti:
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Tämä laki tulee voimaan 1 päivänä elokuuta 2024 ja on voimassa 11 päivään kesäkuuta 2026.
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Tämä laki tulee voimaan päivänä kuuta 20 .
Main content of the bill (official)
The summary and title were produced with AI on 25 Aug 2026. They are not official documents – check the details in the original bill. The title and summaries are machine translations of the Finnish AI summaries. Speeches and quotations are always shown in their original language.