How to claim child benefit

  1. You can claim child benefit online (in Finnish). Log on to the eServices using your online banking codes. You can claim child benefit at the same time with parental allowance. Alternatively, you can complete and print out the Claim for child benefit (LL 1e) and post it to any Kela office.
  2. Single-parent supplement can also be claimed online (in Finnish) or on the same form as child benefit.

Application period is 6 months

Child benefit can be paid in arrears for a maximum of 6 months from the date when the claim was submitted. Single-parent supplement can also be paid for 6 months in arrears. Remember to tell Kela if you move in with a new partner because this will stop you receiving single-parent supplement. You can notify of the changes online (in Finnish). Kela receives information about marriages directly from the local register office.

You can check in the Kela's eServices (in Finnish) whether your application has been processed and the amount of allowance you will receive. In the service, you can also check the next payment day of the allowance. You can log on to the service with your own banking codes.

Updated 10/22/12