Changes to the amounts of child support and child maintenance allowance beginning 1 January 2024
The amounts of child support and child maintenance allowance payments will increase on 1 January 2024 in response to the rise in the cost-of-living index.
Child support payments and child maintenance allowances are linked to the cost-of-living index, which will rise by about 4.84% on 1 January 2024. Starting from the beginning of 2024, the full child maintenance allowance will be EUR 196.02 per month per child. The full amount is currently EUR 186.97 per month, which means that the monthly allowance will increase by EUR 9.05. The index adjustments are applied automatically.
Due to the rise in the cost-of-living index, also the amounts of child support payable will go up. The formula for calculating the child support is the following: amount of child support in 2023 × (2318 : 2211) = amount of child support in 2024. Starting in January, persons liable for maintenance must pay about 4.84% more in child support.
If Kela pays differential allowance for the child and child support has been confirmed in Finland, Kela informs the person liable for maintenance of the new amount of the child support in a letter. If the person liable for maintenance makes payments on the child support debt directly to Kela, the person liable for maintenance can check the new amount of the child support in the OmaKela e-service at the latest at the beginning of January 2024.
If the child maintenance allowance paid by Kela is based on child support confirmed in another country, recipients of child maintenance allowance must themselves inform Kela of any changes in the amount of the child support.
The income limits to qualify for an exemption on child support debt will be adjusted as well. Persons liable for maintenance qualify for the exemption if their monthly income does not exceed EUR 1324.57. The income limit goes up by EUR 331.15 per month for each underage child. However, the income limit is not increased for children who have been granted child maintenance allowance.
Glossary
Person liable for maintenance: Parent who is required to pay child support under a child support agreement or court decision.
Child support: Payment made by the person liable for maintenance to provide economic security to a child who no longer lives permanently with him or her.
Child maintenance allowance: Family benefit paid by Kela to provide economic security to children who are not adequately provided for by both parents.
Differential allowance: Child maintenance allowance paid at a reduced rate if child support has been set at an amount lower than the full child maintenance allowance due to the liable parent's limited ability to pay.
Child support debt: Outstanding payments of child support which Kela will collect from the person liable for maintenance after granting a child maintenance allowance. The child support debt includes interest for late payment.