Are you having a child?
- Visit a maternity and child health clinic and get a certificate of pregnancy
When you are about 5 months into your pregnancy, you can get a certificate of pregnancy from the maternity and child health clinic. You will need it to claim maternity grant and pregnancy allowance.
- Claim a maternity package or an equivalent cash benefit
You can choose between a maternity package and a cash benefit of 170 euros. You should claim the maternity grant no later than two months before the expected date of birth of the child.
Read more about the maternity grant.
- Claim pregnancy allowance
You can start your pregnancy leave 14–30 working days before the expected date of birth of the child. If you are not paid a wage or salary during your leave, you can get pregnancy allowance for 40 working days.
Read more about the pregnancy allowance. - Claim parental allowance
You can start your parental leave after the child is born. Each parent is granted parental allowance for 160 working days. You can transfer 63 of these days to another person who provides care for the child.
Read more about the parental allowance. Apply for child benefit
Child benefit is paid from the beginning of the month following the birth of the child until the child reaches the age of 17 years.
Read more about the child benefit.
You can get benefits from Kela to help with the care of your child also after the end of your parental leave.
Child home care allowance
Child home care allowance is intended for taking care of a child under the age of three at home. The allowance can be paid to a parent or some other guardian if the child does not attend municipal early childhood education and the child is cared for at home.
Flexible care allowance
Flexible care allowance is intended for parents who work part-time (1–30 hours a week) and take care of a child under the age of three for the rest of the time. This allowance is available even if the child attends municipal or private early childhood education.
Private day care allowance
Private day care allowance is intended for the care of a child who is under school age when the child is enrolled in private early childhood education or the family has hired a caregiver for the child. The allowance is paid directly to the caregiver or the provider of early childhood education.
Partial care allowance
Partial care allowance is intended for parents whose child is in the first or second year of school and who only work part-time (1–30 hours a week) to be able to take care of their child. Each parent can be paid this allowance for one child at a time.
What else is going on in your life?
Does your child need more care than usual?
The child can be awarded disability allowance, if the child needs regular treatment and rehabilitation due to illness or disability.
Does your child have a severe illness or disability, because of which you cannot work?
If you have to stay off work due to the child’s severe illness or disability, you can apply for special care allowance to compensate for the loss of earnings.
Do you need help with your housing costs?
Housing allowance can compensate for reduced incomes and help with the housing costs. Read about the types of costs for which you can get housing allowance.
Starting or ending a relationship
Have your benefits reviewed if you move in with your partner, get married or separate.
When money is tight
You can apply for social assistance if your income, assets and benefits are not enough to cover your necessary living expenses, such as food and housing.
Current topics
Do you dream of having children, are you expecting one or did you just have a child?
This guide by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency covers what it means to become a parent and take care of a child and where to get help if needed.
Read more (suomi.fi)