Rapidly rising prices for food and electricity have not prompted people in Finland to seek financial assistance, according to Finland's Social Insurance Institution Kela.

With the exception of August, the agency has processed fewer income support applications so far this year than it did last year, Kela benefits manager, Kirsi Metsävainio told Yle.

Rising electricity bills aren't reflected in assistance applications, at least not significantly more than they were before prices shot up, Metsävainio explained.

She said there has been a slight increase in such applications from households that are heated with electricity, compared to last year.

However, as the weather gets cooler, people's electricity bills will continue to grow, and the benefits agency is getting ready to deal with more assistance applications by hiring more staff.

Recruitment has already begun, Metsävainio noted.

However, she said it remains to be seen how much the rise of electricity prices will affect income support levels as a whole. The increase in prices does not necessarily affect the levels of support clients are eligible to receive, as the majority of such recipients live as rental tenants with heating costs included in the rent.

The financial data services firm Suomen Asiakastieto reported at the beginning of this month that unpaid electricity bills were already visible in payment default statistics. The firm said the number of default notices regarding electricity bills increased by 18 percent, year-on-year.