Description of benefit 2019: Statistics on maternity grant
This text has been created for statistical purposes. The benefits are described in accordance with the legislation in effect as of 2019. Up-to-date information on benefits can be found on Kela’s website at www.kela.fi/english.
The maternity grant is governed by the Maternity Grants Act (477/1993), which is implemented by Kela. Amendments to the Act are described in the appendixes to Kela’s Statistical Yearbook.
Maternity grant can be awarded under the Maternity Grants Act to women who live in Finland. The question whether a child is considered to be living in Finland is determined according to the Act on residence-based social security in cross-border situations (16/2019). Residence-based benefits are subject to certain exceptions based on the EU regulation on social security and various bilateral agreements on social security.
The maternity grant is available to expecting mothers whose pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days and who have undergone a medical checkup by the end of the fourth month of pregnancy. The maternity grant can also be paid for an adopted child under 18 years of age.
The maternity grant can be provided not only as a cash grant but also as a maternity package containing child care items. The amount of the cash grant is confirmed by the Government. In 2019, the cash grant was 170 euros.
The maternity grant is paid at a higher rate if more than one child at a time is born or adopted into a family. In case of multiple births, the grant is doubled for the second child born at the same time, tripled for the third, etc. In such cases, the maternity grant can consist of maternity packages, cash grants or combinations thereof.
Persons adopting a child from abroad are entitled to an adoption grant. Based on the Maternity Grants Act, the adoption grant is intended to provide financial relief for the costs of international adoption.
Award of the maternity and adoption grants for an adoptive child requires the adoption to have been performed in accordance with Finnish law.
The country from which the child is adopted affects the amount of the grant.
| Country | EUR |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | EUR 9,000 |
| Thailand | EUR 5,000 |
| Other countries | EUR 7,000 |
If parents adopt more than one child at a time, an additional award of 30% of the full adoption grant is made for each additional child.
The maternity grant and the adoption grant are free from tax.
Description of benefit 2018: Statistics on maternity grant
This text has been created for statistical purposes. The benefits are described in accordance with the legislation in effect as of 2018. Up-to-date information on benefits can be found on Kela’s website at www.kela.fi/english.
The maternity grant is governed by the Maternity Grant Act (477/1993), which is implemented by Kela. Amendments to the Act are described in the appendixes to Kela’s Statistical Yearbook.
Maternity grant can be awarded under the Maternity Grant Act to women who live in Finland. In 2018, the question whether someone is considered to be living in Finland was determined according to the Act on the Application of the Legislation on Residence-Based Social Security. Residence-based benefits are subject to certain exceptions based on the EU regulation on social security and various bilateral agreements on social security.
The maternity grant is available to expecting mothers whose pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days and who have undergone a medical checkup by the end of the fourth month of pregnancy. The maternity grant can also be paid for an adopted child under 18 years of age.
The maternity grant can be provided not only as a cash grant but also as a maternity package containing child care items. The amount of the cash grant is confirmed by the Government. In 2018, the cash grant and the value of the maternity package were raised from 140 euros to 170 euros. The increased rate of benefit applied to expectant mothers whose due date was 1 June 2018 or later.
The maternity grant is paid at a higher rate if more than one child at a time is born or adopted into a family. In case of multiple births, the grant is doubled for the second child born at the same time, tripled for the third, etc. In such cases, the maternity grant can consist of maternity packages, cash grants or combinations thereof.
Persons adopting a child from abroad are entitled to an adoption grant. Based on the Maternity Grants Act, the adoption grant is intended to provide financial relief for the costs of international adoption.
Award of the maternity and adoption grants for an adoptive child requires the adoption to have been performed in accordance with Finnish law.
The country from which the child is adopted affects the amount of the grant.
| Country | EUR |
|---|---|
| Estonia | EUR 1,900 |
| South Africa, China, Kenya and Colombia | EUR 4,500 |
| The Philippines, Ethiopia and Russia | EUR 3,800 |
| Other countries | EUR 3,000 |
If parents adopt more than one child at a time, an additional award of 30% of the full adoption grant is made for each additional child.
The maternity grant and the adoption grant are free from tax.