Deputy-Ombudsman Mikko Sarja has followed up on the measures taken by certain wellbeing services counties and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health following his earlier decisions concerning funds for promoting independence. According to the reports received, the wellbeing services counties have begun to remedy shortcomings in the accrual of funds for promoting independence for children and young people and to pay young people funds that had not accrued for them. The practices of all wellbeing services counties were not examined nationwide in this context.

In his previous decisions, the Deputy-Ombudsman drew attention to significant shortcomings in the accrual of funds for promoting independence for children who had been placed in substitute care (see press release). He also considered that the legislation should be clarified to safeguard the equal treatment of children.

The Deputy-Ombudsman considers it important that the realisation of children’s rights should not depend on the area in which a child has been placed. According to the reports received, differences remain between the practices of the wellbeing services counties, particularly with regard to how failures dating from the period when municipalities were responsible are taken into account.

Corrective measures have been taken

The wellbeing services counties included in the assessment reported that they had taken corrective measures following the Ombudsman’s decisions.

The Wellbeing Services County of Western Uusimaa stated that it would compensate for missing funds for promoting independence for the period during which it has had responsibility for organising the services concerned (Deputy-Ombudsman’s decision EOAK/240/2025, in Finnish). However, the wellbeing services county has not yet decided how children and young people will be compensated for shortcomings that arose before the wellbeing services county reform, when the municipalities were responsible.

The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland paid the young person the missing funds for promoting independence. The wellbeing services county is also examining the accrual of funds for promoting independence for other young people in substitute care. Funds for promoting independence that did not accrue during the period when the municipalities were responsible will be recovered from the municipalities.

The Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia stated that it would compensate the young person for the missing funds for promoting independence in accordance with the Ombudsman’s calculation. In addition, the wellbeing services county has assessed the situations of other children and young people in similar circumstances and has begun to remedy the shortcomings identified.

The Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland stated that it had calculated the funds for promoting independence that had not accrued for the child and would reserve them for the young person to use when becoming independent. At the same time, the wellbeing services county has taken self-monitoring measures to ensure the appropriate accrual of funds for promoting independence for all children in substitute care in the future.

The Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme stated that it would retroactively compensate for missing funds for promoting independence from the beginning of 2013 until the child began receiving an orphan’s pension.

Ministry considers clarification of the legislation necessary

In its notification of measures (see the Deputy-Ombudsman’s proposal EOAK/3212/2026, in Finnish), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has also acknowledged that there are ambiguities in the provisions on funds for promoting independence and their implementation. The Ministry considers the needs for legislative clarification raised by the Deputy-Ombudsman to be justified.

According to the Ministry, the provisions on funds for promoting independence have been examined as part of the preparations for the comprehensive reform of child welfare. However, reform of the provisions has been postponed to a later stage.

The Deputy-Ombudsman welcomes the fact that the wellbeing services counties have begun to remedy the shortcomings identified. However, in his view, it is important for the equal treatment of children that practices concerning the determination and compensation of funds for promoting independence are clear and consistent throughout the country.