Material aid is part of the EU’s regional and structural policy programme “Innovartion and Skills in Finland 2021-2027”. Material aid is financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
Material aid is implemented as projects that offer a payment card (40 €) for purchasing food and basic goods as part of their work where they meet people face-to-face. Payment cards cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco or gambling products. In addition to material aid, guidance and counselling, as well as other activities planned by the project organisers, are also offered at the same time. The primary target group is the low-income unemployed and those outside the working world.
Information about ongoing material assistance projects can be found on the project implementers’ own websites.
The actors distributing payment cards are (list updated 23 March 2026):
More information on the Finnish Food Authority’s website (in Finnish): Aineellinen apu ESR+ – Ruokavirasto