Finland's over-60s are seeking disability pensions at a rate more than 50 percent higher than a decade ago, creating a stark contrast with an overall national decline. According to fresh data from the Finnish Centre for Pensions, nearly 7,600 sixty-year-olds received a decision on their disability pension application last year. This surge occurs even as the total number of disability pension decisions processed by earnings-related pension institutions fell to 22,000 in 2025, marking a three percent drop from the previous year.
The trend highlights a growing pressure point within Finland's social security framework as the population ages and eligibility rules evolve. While disability pension rates have decreased across all other age groups in the long term, the situation for those at the cusp of retirement is moving in the opposite direction. Experts point to systemic changes, rather than a sudden health crisis, as the primary driver.
A System Under Strain
The Finnish Centre for Pensions, known as ETK, is the central body monitoring the nation's pension landscape. Its statistician, Joonas Hautamäki, said several factors are likely behind the long-term increase in applications from sixty-year-olds. A key reform is the steady annual rise of the lower limit for the old-age pension, a change enacted in the 2017 pension overhaul. This gradual increase means some people turning 60 find their working capacity does not last until they reach the new, higher retirement age.
Consequently, they apply for a disability pension as a pathway to retirement. The disability pension is available to individuals whose work ability has deteriorated due to illness or injury for at least one year. For some in this age bracket, it has become a bridge over the gap created by the reformed pension age schedule. This policy interaction is a direct result of legislative decisions made in the Eduskunta to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pension system.
More Workers, More Applications
Another significant factor is a demographic shift in the workplace itself. Employment rates among older people have risen consistently, meaning there are simply more sixty-year-olds active in the labor market than there were ten years ago. Hautamäki explained this straightforward correlation on ETK's website. He said when there are more older people in working life, it logically follows that there will also be more disability pension applications from that age group.
This is not necessarily an indicator of worsening health among older workers but reflects their increased participation. The data suggests the system is encountering a larger pool of potential applicants simply because more people in that cohort are employed and thus covered by earnings-related pension schemes. This trend aligns with broader EU goals of extending working lives, yet it presents administrative and financial challenges for national pension institutions.
Rising Scrutiny and Rejections
The system's response to this increased demand has been tighter scrutiny. Over the past decade, the proportion of applications that are rejected has grown substantially. However, that trend paused in 2025. Last year, the rejection rate for all disability pension applications was 38 percent, a slight decrease from 40 percent the year before.
This indicates that while the gatekeeping has become stricter over the long term, there was a minor correction in the most recent data. The pause in rising rejection rates could signal a stabilization or a recalibration of assessment criteria by pension institutions. Nonetheless, more than one in three applicants are still denied, underscoring that a disability pension is not an automatic entitlement for older workers facing difficulties.
The Broader Pension Landscape
This development sits within a complex national and European discussion on aging, work, and welfare. Finland, like many EU member states, is grappling with the economic implications of a shrinking workforce supporting a growing retiree population. Policies that raise the retirement age are a common tool, but the Finnish data shows a tangible side-effect: increased reliance on disability benefits by those struggling to bridge the extended working period.
The phenomenon raises questions about support systems for older workers whose capacity diminishes before they reach the official retirement age. It touches on issues of occupational healthcare, rehabilitation services, and the adaptability of workplaces to retain aging employees. The data from ETK provides crucial evidence for ongoing policy debates in Helsinki's government district, where coalition parties must balance fiscal responsibility with social protection.