Pregnancy and Kela benefits

You can estimate how much benefit you are entitled to during family leave even before your baby is born. When you enter the expected date of delivery in the calculator (only in Finnish), you will also see when the maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave will start and end.

A check list for expectant mothers

  1. When you become pregnant, contact your doctor or the antenatal clinic of your municipality. Make the first appointment with the antenatal clinic or your doctor before the end of the fourth month of your pregnancy.
  2. You can use the calculator (only in Finnish) for estimating when your maternity leave will begin and how much allowance you are entitled to. You can decide for yourself whether you start your maternity leave 50 days before the estimated date of delivery or at a later date. You have to start your maternity leave at least 30 working days before the estimated date of delivery.
  3. If your work is potentially dangerous to your or the baby's health, you may be able to start your maternity leave early and receive special maternity allowance.
  4. When your pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days (about 5 months), you will receive a pregnancy certificate from the antenatal clinic. Find out whether your employer will pay wages during your leave. The payment of wages is often based on the collective agreement. You will need this information when applying for allowances from Kela. You can now apply for maternity allowance, maternity grant, parental allowance and child benefit from Kela. You can submit the applications online (only in Finnish). Attach the certificate to your application.
  5. Notify your employer of your forthcoming family leave when applying for allowances from Kela or at least 2 months before starting the leave. Ask your employer whether you can give the notification informally or in writing.
  6. You can check in the eServices (only in Finnish) whether your application has been processed and the amount of allowance you will receive.
  7. You start your maternity leave no later than 30 working days (about 5 weeks) before the estimated date of delivery. If you wish, you can take so-called early maternity leave, starting 50 working days (just over 2 months) before the estimated date of delivery at the earliest.
  8. If you are having a multiple pregnancy, your parental allowance period will be longer than normal. The maternity grant will also be multiplied.
  9. If your older child is under 3 years old on the day of your baby's estimated date of delivery, you may qualify for parental allowance on the basis of the same income as for your older child (see Amount).

Check list for fathers

  1. Your paternity leave will not begin until after your child is born, but you have to notify your employer of your leave at least 2 months in advance. If you take your leave in shorter periods and the total leave is a maximum of 12 days, it is sufficient to give 1 month's notice.
  2. Negotiate with your employer when you will take your paternity leave and whether you will take it in shorter periods or all at once. For example, you can tell your employer the child's due date and agree on what to do in case of premature or overdue birth.
  3. You can claim the paternity leave allowances in advance, but Kela cannot grant the allowance before receiving information about the child's birth. Therefore, the easiest way is to apply for the allowance after the baby is born.
  4. If your older child is under 3 years old on the day of your baby's estimated date of delivery, you may qualify for parental allowance on the basis of the same income as for your older child (see Amount).

Updated 12/12/12