Amount and payment of flexible care allowance
The flexible care allowance is payable at two rates depending on the parent's total working time. The family's income does not affect the amount of the allowance. Flexible care allowance is payable for one child at a time only.
The amount of the flexible care allowance is
- €269.24 per month if the recipient works no more than 22.5 hours per week or no more than 60% of normal full hours.
- €179.49 per month if the recipient works more than 22.5 hours per week but no more than 30 hours per week, or more than 60% but less than 80% of normal full-time hours
The above hourly totals and percentages are averages. They can vary from week to week as long as the working time, when averaged over a longer period, does not exceed a specified maximum.
Each year, Kela adjusts the flexible allowance with an index, which may change the amount of the allowance. The adjustment is made automatically. You do not have to do anything.
Payment
The allowance is paid monthly on the last business day of the month. The decision shows the first payment date of the allowance. The decision is sent to your home address and is also available in the OmaKela e-service. Please note that our e-service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Kela sends the data on child care allowances paid out to the national incomes register within five days of the date of payment.