Child Increase

Pensions can be supplemented by an increase for children under the age of 16.

You are eligible if you receive any of the following pensions:

• a national pension
• a disability pension, partial disability pension, unemployment pension, old-age pension or early old-age pension based on a public- or private-sector employment relationship
• a statutory pension in respect of disability under an employment accident insurance, motor insurance or military injuries scheme, a life annuity, a disability pension, or a compensation for loss of earnings paid for 12 months following a traffic accident.

Your pension is increased for each child of your own or of your spouse under the age of 16 years who lives in your household. It is also available for foster children placed with you through a private placement process and for children of your own who do not live with you but for whose economic well-being you are responsible.

Being responsible for the economic well-being of a child who is not living with you means that you contribute at least an amount equal to the child maintenance allowance (€147,96), for example by paying child support or by making various purchases for the child and having the child stay with you. Child support payments collected from you through enforcement action are taken into account. Kela evaluates whether your expenditure can be considered to be equal to the child maintenance allowance.

Amount and payment

Child Increase is a flat-rate benefit, EUR 21,23 per month and per child. It is free from tax and adjusted annually to changes in the National Pension Index.

Child Increase is paid on the recipients bank account on the same dates as national pensions.

How to apply for a Child Increase to a pension

1. To apply for a Child Increase, fill in the relevant application (form EV 264 in Finnish) and submit it to any Kela office or pension provider.

2. Enclose

• proof of payment or other evidence showing that you pay child support or otherwise contribute financially to your child’s well-being, if your child does not live with you.

Application period

Apply for a Child Increase at the same time as you apply for a pension. If you choose to apply for it later, remember that the application can backdated for up to 6 months only.

You can access Kela's online service to see whether your application has been decided and when the benefit you have applied for will be paid.

Notification of changes and end of payment

Child Increase recipients must notify Kela of any changes in child care arrangements.

Payment of the Child Increase will end automatically at the beginning of the month following the child’s 16th birthday.

If the child dies before reaching the age of 16 years, Kela will stop the payment once it has been notified of the child’s death by the recipient or the Population Register Centre.