Terminating YEL insurance

You can apply to terminate your insurance if there is a longer break in your self-employed work (typically around four months). The interruption may be due to, for example, parental leave, military service, full-time studies or a longer period of sick leave.

When you resume your work, take out a new YEL insurance policy starting from the date on which your self-employed work continues.

You can apply to terminate your insurance if your work decreases to the extent that the annual value of your work input falls below the minimum threshold for YEL insurance (EUR 9,423.09 in 2026). Terminate the insurance from the date on which your work decreased below the threshold.

However, you may not be able to terminate your insurance simply because your taxable income or salary decreases, or because you stop paying yourself a salary altogether.

Read more about YEL income

You can apply to terminate your YEL insurance if you own:

• 30 per cent or less of the company's shares or voting rights on your own, or
• 50 per cent or less together with your family members.

If you continue working for the company, it must insure you under its TyEL insurance policy.

Read more about YEL insurance in different company forms

When you retire on an old-age pension, your YEL insurance ends automatically on the day before your pension begins. Confirmation of the termination will be included in your pension decision. You do not need to terminate the insurance separately.

Read more about applying for an old-age pension

If you stop working as a self-employed person before retiring, please inform us before submitting your pension application.

If you continue working as a self-employed person while receiving an old-age pension, you may take out voluntary YEL insurance.

Read more about YEL insurance alongside a pension

Explore brochures on earnings-related pension benefits and recordings of pension-related webinars

YEL insurance is personal, and a single policy covers all your self-employed work. You only need one YEL insurance policy, even if you own several businesses. If you stop working in one of your companies but continue working in another, your YEL insurance will not be terminated.

YEL insurance is not terminated when your work is interrupted for a short period, for example because of a summer holiday or a short illness.

Read more about sickness allowance for the self-employed on Kela’s website

Your YEL insurance does not end if you stop drawing a salary from your company or receive a lower salary than before. Your obligation to have YEL insurance is determined by the value of your work input. Your taxable income or your company's profit or loss is not, on its own, sufficient grounds for terminating your insurance.

Read more about YEL income

Seasonal self-employment that continues from year to year is considered ongoing, even if the activity is interrupted for several months during the calendar year. For example, a self-employed person who operates a kiosk only during the summer may still be considered to be carrying on continuous business activities.

If you know that your business activities will continue, your YEL insurance must remain valid throughout the year, even if you work as a self-employed person for only part of the year. Take the seasonal nature of your work into account when determining your YEL income. You can also choose to have your insurance contributions fall due during the months when you are working.