Parental allowance

Kela pays parental allowance for 158 working days. The child is about 9 months old when the parental allowance ends. Parental allowance will end earlier if you have your next child and receive maternity or paternity allowance for the new baby.

If the child is born prematurely, parental allowance is paid for over 158 working days. In such a case, extra days of parental allowance are paid for as many working days as the mother's maternity allowance period was moved forward. In practice, parental allowance is paid until the child is about 9 months old.

Multiple birth families

For multiple birth families, parental allowance is paid 60 working days longer for each child, starting from the second child. When the allowance is paid for 158 working days for one child, for twins it is paid for 158 + 60 working days, for triplets for 158 + 60 + 60 working days, etc. The extra days can be used for extending the leave or so that both parents can be at home at the same time to look after the children.

Updated 10/22/12