Child care allowances
After the parental leave, you have different options for arranging your child’s day care. Your child can be in municipal or private early childhood education or can be looked after at home.
Child care benefits paid by Kela are
You can be granted child home care allowance or private day care allowance if your child does not attend municipal early childhood education. Flexible or partial care allowance can be granted if your working hours are 30 hours per week, maximum, and the other entitlement criteria for the benefit are met.
Child care allowances are not paid for periods shorter than one month. The allowance period does not have to start from the beginning of the month. The minimum allowance period includes all consecutive payments of child home care allowance or private day care allowance to either parent.
Child care leave for working parents
Agree with your employer how you are going take your child care leave. You must notify your employer at least 2 months before you plan to take the leave.
The care leave can be taken in one or two periods (for each child). The leave period must be at least one month at a time. It is possible to take the care leave in several periods if so agreed with your employer.
For information about the child care leave, you may also wish to contact your employer or your union or consult your collective agreement.