Service Vouchers in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County
This page contains resources and details on service vouchers for both clients and service providers.
Page updated: October 28, 2025
Service vouchers offer an alternative to the services directly provided or outsourced by the Wellbeing Services County. The Wellbeing Services County determines the voucher’s value and certifies service providers eligible for voucher payments. The use of service vouchers is based on the Act on Service Vouchers for Social Welfare and Health Care (569/2009).
The purpose of service vouchers is to increase clients’ freedom of choice and opportunities to access services from private service providers. At the same time, our aim is to improve service availability, promote collaboration between the Wellbeing Services County and private service providers, and encourage competition among these service providers.
When the Wellbeing Services County issues a service voucher, it agrees to pay for part of the pre-defined service package that the service provider offers. First, a representative from the Wellbeing Services County assesses the client’s service needs, and, based on this assessment, determines if the services will be granted with a service voucher. Clients can then select their preferred service provider from the options presented by the Wellbeing Services County. After making their choice, clients share their voucher ID with the preferred service provider, who can then access the client’s voucher-related information from the service voucher system.
The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is currently utilising an electronic service voucher and purchased service system, known as PSOP (Parastapalvelua.fi). The service voucher handbooks containing the guidelines of the Wellbeing Services County, that all service providers commit to in PSOP when registering to provide service vouchers, are all published on this page.
Service Vouchers and Handbooks
A handbook is a guide developed by the Wellbeing Services County for service voucher service providers, crafted in collaboration with these providers. The handbooks specify the services granted with service vouchers and the associated obligations. When providing services based on vouchers, the service provider primarily complies with the handbook, and service providers commit to their guidelines upon registration.
The handbooks consist of a general section, a service-specific section, and appendices. The content can be updated by the Wellbeing Services County, even post-publication, if required. The handbooks are currently only available in Finnish.
The values of the service vouchers align with the currently valid decisions of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County’s governing body. The Wellbeing Services County consistently evaluates the values of service vouchers to ensure that possible client charges (i.e., “Out-of-pocket expenses”) remain reasonable.
The service vouchers that were implemented on January 1, 2023 by the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, with their values and guiding principles established by the County Board on October 31, 2022. The specified values can be found online at: County Board Meeting 31.10.2022 § 158(external link). The decision to increase the value of the service voucher for 24-hour residential care for the elderly, starting from January 1, 2024, was made on December 18, 2023, by the County Board, and the updated values can be found at the link: County Board Meeting 18.12.2023 § 226(external link).
Service Voucher System
The service voucher system refers to an information system employed by the Wellbeing Services County. It is primarily used for managing applications from potential service providers, oversee the issuance of service vouchers, and handle invoicing of provided services.
Presently, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County utilizes the PSOP system, administered by Kuntien Tiera Oy. The system was developed in collaboration with municipalities and is used widely across Finland.
Access the PSOP system at: www.parastapalvelua.fi(external link).
Service providers utilize the PSOP system to apply for status as approved service voucher service providers within the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. Approved service providers record their invoicing details and service transactions within the system. The system automates invoicing based on the service data entered, eliminating the need to send separate invoices to the Wellbeing Services County.
For assistance with the PSOP system, service providers for the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County should reach out to:psop@luvn.fi.
Clients can compare different service providers, check their granted service vouchers, and give feedback to service providers by logging into the PSOP system using online banking credentials or mobile ID.
Client Rights and Responsibilities
Clients have the right to decline the service voucher offered to them. Should they refuse the voucher, the Wellbeing Services County has an obligation to guide them to alternative avenues of service. However, clients cannot legally demand to receive a service specifically via the service voucher. For example, vouchers are not suitable for urgent or involuntary care.
Clients may switch service providers, discontinue the service voucher, or under specific circumstances, seek an increase in the voucher’s value. An increase is mandated by law if a client’s or their family's livelihood or statutory maintenance duty is otherwise at risk. Clients also have the option to authorize a trusted individual to manage their voucher transactions within the PSOP system.
When a client and a service provider agree on a service provided via the service voucher, the contract is solely between the client and the service provider. In other words, the Wellbeing Services County is not a contractual party. Furthermore, clients do not pay client fees to the Wellbeing Services County when utilizing the voucher.
If the service’s cost exceeds the voucher’s value, clients bear the difference and pay the resulting expenses (i.e., “Out-of-pocket expenses”) directly to the service provider. However, if the client is legally exempted from such fees, the Wellbeing Services County will cover the difference.
Clients and service providers can agree on additional services outside those covered by the voucher. However, the financial responsibility for these additional services lies with the client.
The service voucher is a tax-free benefit for its recipients. Out-of-pocket expenses paid by the client or the Wellbeing Services County to the service provider do not count towards the annual payment ceiling in social welfare. Additionally, services provided by the voucher do not qualify for Kela reimbursements nor for tax credit for household expenses.
Operational Scope of Service Providers
Service providers in the voucher system can range from independent professionals to private businesses, organisations, or companies that offer social or healthcare services. To operate within this system, these service providers must first be approved by the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
Service voucher service providers must use the PSOP system to specify their registered operational areas. The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County then grants approvals based on guidelines detailed in the handbooks.
Current laws do not define operational areas for private companies. Neither the Wellbeing Services County nor the municipality dictates in which municipalities within the Wellbeing Services County the service provider offers their services. Thus, private service providers can operate in any chosen municipality without any obligation to expand their reach within the Wellbeing Services County.
As mandated by sections 7(1) and 11(1) of the Act on Private Social Services (922/2011), private social service providers must notify of any operational changes, such as expanding their service area to a new municipality.
Should a service voucher service provider decide to cease operations in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, it is crucial to notify both the affected clients and Wellbeing Services County’s contact person in written format. This ensures that services can be arranged in alternative ways for clients. Typically, termination of services is effective no earlier than one (1) month after submitting the notice. Service providers are obligated to complete all ongoing procedures purchased with service vouchers at the time of termination. When a service voucher provider discontinues the provision of service voucher services, they must also submit a completed withdrawal form to the email address psophankinta@luvn.fi. The withdrawal form can be downloaded from the following link: Service provider's notice of withdrawal - PSOP LUVN(external link) (in Finnish).
External Guidelines for Service Providers:
Valvira: Service provider register Soteri(external link)
Valvira: Self-supervision in social services(external link) (in Finnish)
System supplier-maintained PSOP user guide pages(external link) (in Finnish)
(The PSOP system is being updated – please note the date of entry.)