Stepfamilies

Forming a stepfamily may have an impact on family allowances.

Child benefit

When you form a stepfamily, the amount of child benefit will change. You can no longer receive single-parent supplement to child benefit, but the amount of child benefit may be increased by the child benefit received by the other children in the stepfamily.

For example, if the family consists of the mother's two children and the father's child, child benefit is paid according to three children if all of the child benefit is paid into the same person. See the amounts on the table.

Child support and child maintenance allowance

Forming a stepfamily has no impact on receiving child support or child maintenance allowance paid by Kela. The parent liable for maintenance will pay child maintenance as agreed.

Housing allowance

If you are receiving housing allowance, cohabitation or marriage may change the amount of allowance. You can use the housing allowance calculator (in Finnish) to see whether you are eligible for housing allowance and how much you may be entitled to.

Check list

  • tell Kela if you move in with a new partner. You can do it online (in Finnish) under own information. Notify of the change as soon as possible to avoid excess payment of allowance. Kela receives information about marriages directly from the local register office and therefore it is not necessary to tell Kela about it.
  • If you are receiving housing allowance, please complete the online application for housing allowance adjustment so that Kela can pay the allowance according to the new situation, or alternatively you can cancel the allowance online.

Updated 10/22/12