Kela obliged to report changes in the economic situation of parents liable to provide maintenance
Parliament has decided on an amendment to the Act on Child Maintenance Allowance, following which Kela is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of changes in the economic situation of the parent liable to provide maintenance and repeated exemptions from payment of child support debt. The intention is to strengthen the primary nature of the child support in securing maintenance for the child. The legislative amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Summary:
Kela is obliged to notify the wellbeing service county of the liable parent’s improved economic situation when child maintenance allowance has been applied for or is paid for the child due to the liable parent’s reduced ability to provide maintenance for the child and there could be reason to assess the liable parent’s ability to provide maintenance again. The assessment of the economic situation is made on the basis of income and tax data.
Kela’s obligation to notify the wellbeing services county also applies to situations where the liable parent’s economic situation has deteriorated and the parent has repeatedly been granted exemption from payment of child support debt.
The changes to the Act will take effect on 1 January 2026.
Customers do not have to contact Kela due to the change.
Also after the legislative change, it is primarily the parent liable to provide maintenance who is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of changes in their ability to provide maintenance for their child. This way, the child support can be reviewed, when necessary, so that it corresponds to the actual ability to provide maintenance.
Child support is the amount that the parent liable to pay maintenance for a child must pay for the maintenance of their child. The amount of child support is confirmed in a maintenance agreement or in a court order.
The child maintenance allowance is a family benefit paid by Kela to provide economic security to children who are not adequately provided for by both parents.
Kela’s role as regards child support will not change
Parliament has decided that, as from 1 January 2026, Kela has the right to check the economic situation of parents liable to provide maintenance when child maintenance allowance has been applied for or is paid for the child due to the liable parent’s reduced ability to provide maintenance. Kela will do this check on the basis of the income and tax information of the person liable for maintenance. Kela is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of the liable parent’s improved economic situation if it possible that the ability to provide maintenance should be assessed again.
Kela’s obligation to notify the wellbeing services county also applies to situations where the liable parent’s economic situation has deteriorated and the parent has repeatedly been granted exemption from payment of child support debt.
Even when the Act on Child Maintenance Allowance is amended, Kela will still not have the power to decide the amount of child support. Kela can only forward the information on the change in the liable parent’s economic situation to the wellbeing services county. Also henceforth, the child welfare officer assesses whether the amount of child support should be changed.
The amendment also does not affect the child maintenance allowance from Kela.
It is still primarily the liable parent who is obliged to notify changes
Also after the legislative change, it is primarily the parent liable to provide maintenance who is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of changes in their ability to provide maintenance for their child. This way, the child support can be reviewed, when necessary, so that it corresponds to the actual ability to provide maintenance.
The legislative amendment aims to strengthen the primary nature of the child support in securing maintenance for the child and secure the child’s right to sufficient maintenance.