Special circumstances during the 12-month reference period
In certain situations the allowance can be determined on the basis of the income for the last 3 calendar months of the reference period. This presupposes that the situation during the 12-month reference period has been one of the following:
- You have attained vocational qualifications and taken a degree.
- For example a basic vocational qualification, a further vocational qualification, or a bachelor's or master's level university degree.
- You have performed conscript or alternative civilian service.
- You have been partly or completely absent from the labour market after the period of daily allowances for parents because you have been home caring for a child under age 3.
- You have been partly or completely absent from the labour market after the parental allowance period, because you have stayed at home caring for an adopted child.
- You have been absent from work while participating in the medical care of an ill or disabled child under 16 years of age (home care or hospital care).
- You have moved to Finland from another country and you were not covered by the Finnish national health insurance while living abroad.
A further requirement is that the income for 3 months multiplied by 4 is at least 20% higher than the annual income determined on the basis of the 12-month reference period.
Special circumstances
A doctor confirms that Elina is incapable of work starting from 14 February 2022. The 12-month reference period for annual income is 1 January–31 December 2021. Elina has been on child care leave at the beginning of the year and started working on 1 August 2021 when the child turned 3 years.
Elina has received EUR 2,500 per month (before taxes) in wages in the period 1 August–31 December 2021. Her annual income for the 12 month reference period is thus 12,500 euros.
The annual income calculated on the basis of the last 3 calendar months of the reference period is 2,500 euros x 3 months x 4 = 30,000 euros. Elina applies for parental allowance on the basis of her income for 3 months.
The allowance can exceptionally be determined on the basis of the annual income calculated on the basis of the income for 3 months since the annual income calculated in this way is more than 20% higher than the annual income determined for the 12-month reference period and Elina has been absent from work while caring for her child aged under 3 years.
How to apply
You must apply for a determination of the allowance on the basis of the income for the last 3 months of the reference period. Kela does not on its own initiative investigate whether any of the special circumstances referred to above are present during the reference period or whether your income has increased in the manner required.