Students at the University of Helsinki. More than 25,000 students may have to repay financial aid. LEHTIKUVA
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Kela is seeking to recover €26.3 million in overpaid student financial aid from around 25,000 students who exceeded the annual income limit in 2023. On average, each student will need to repay €1,023. The recovered aid is subject to a 7.5% surcharge.
Student financial aid must be repaid if the recipient’s income surpasses a set threshold. These limits have been raised in recent years, leading to fewer cases of overpayment.
Ilpo Lahtinen, senior coordinator of Kela’s Student Financial Aid Section, said the income limits were increased by 50% in both 2022 and 2023. He noted that this adjustment has significantly reduced the number of recovery decisions, which fell from 47,000 to 25,000.
In 2023, students who received financial aid for nine months were allowed to earn up to €18,720 without exceeding the limit.
Students who receive a preliminary recovery decision must repay the overpaid amount by 15 April. Those unable to pay by the deadline must contact Kela to discuss alternative payment arrangements.
Kela clarified that the current income review only applies to student financial aid, which includes study grants and housing supplements. The general housing allowance is not affected.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
