Family leaves and benefits

During pregnancy and as the parent of a small child, you are entitled to different forms of family leave, such as pregnancy leave and parental leave. While on family leave, you can receive benefits from Kela or, in certain cases if you are employed, a salary.

As your family grows, you may become concerned with the sustainability of your finances. If you can read Finnish, one good source of information is the Managing your family’s finances after having a baby page (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. provided by the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters.

Once you have been appointed an adoptee, you can apply for an adoption grantOpens in a new window. from Kela for the costs of the intercountry adoption. You can use the adoption grant to pay for e.g. travel and housing costs, document translations, service provider payments, and various administrative costs. Read more about the adoption grant on Kela’s website.

The maternity grant is a one-off benefit offered by Kela to expecting mothers and adoptive families.  You can receive your maternity grant either as a cash benefit or maternity package. The size and form of your family will not affect your eligibility for the grant.  If you are pregnant, you can apply for the maternity grant when

• your pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days, or approximately 5 months.
• you have received a certificate of pregnancy from your maternity and child health clinic or a physician.

Apply for the grant no later than two months before your estimated due date.

If you adopted a child, apply for the maternity grant

• when the child has been identified for placement in your care or
• within two months of the arrival of the child.

If you forget to apply for the maternity grant, you can still apply later if your child is under 18 years of age.

Read more about the maternity grant on Kela’s website.Opens in a new window.

Read more about the pregnancy allowance on Kela’s website.Opens in a new window.A pregnant parent is entitled to pregnancy leave. The length of the pregnancy leave is 40 working days.

Pregnancy leave usually starts 30 working days before the estimated due date, but the leave must start no later than 14 working days before the estimated date.

• Agree with your employer on the start date of your pregnancy leave no later than two months before it is set to begin.
• If you are not in an employment relationship, you have the option of going on pregnancy leave 14–30 working days before your estimated due date.

You will receive a pregnancy allowance for the duration of your pregnancy leave. The pregnancy allowance is only paid to the pregnant parent.

• You can apply for your pregnancy allowance from Kela after your pregnancy has lasted 154 days. You must apply for your pregnancy allowance within two months of the start of your pregnancy leave at the latest.
• Remember to also determine in advance whether your employer will pay you a salary for the duration of your pregnancy leave. You will need this information for your pregnancy allowance application. If you are paid a salary during your pregnancy, Kela will pay the pregnancy allowance to your employer.

Read more about the pregnancy allowance on Kela’s website.Opens in a new window.

You are eligible for special pregnancy leave if you are exposed to the following in your work:

• chemical substances
• radiation
• infectious diseases
• other factors that could endanger your unborn child.

The reason for the leave and your absence from work must be that your employer cannot provide you with any other, safer work at your workplace. You can begin your special pregnancy leave after it has been determined that you are pregnant.

If you are entitled to special pregnancy leave, you can apply for special pregnancy allowance from Kela. The special pregnancy allowance is paid until the start of your regular pregnancy allowance period. In other words, the special pregnancy allowance will not reduce your regular pregnancy allowance.

To apply for special pregnancy allowance, you will need:

• an occupational health physician’s statement detailing the risk that your work or working conditions pose to your foetus and pregnancy
• a pregnancy certificate
• a report by your employer on your working conditions and absence

Kela pays a child benefit for each child living in Finland until the child turns 17. Your assets and income will not affect the amount of child benefit you may receive.

The child benefit can be paid to either parent or a guardian. The child benefit can also be applied for by another person responsible for the child’s care and upbringing, such as a family carer or grandparent.

You can apply for the child benefit from Kela when you are pregnant. The payment of the child benefit begins at the start of the following month after the child is born. Adoptive parents receive their child benefit from the start of the following month after the child is placed in their care.

The child maintenance allowance is a Kela benefit that can be applied for by single parents by choice and those who adopted a child alone, for example. The child maintenance allowance may also be granted after a divorce if the other parent is unable to pay child support or if the amount of child support is lower than the amount of child maintenance allowance.

Read more about the child maintenance allowance on Kela's website.Opens in a new window.

You can begin your parental leave after the birth of your child or, if you are the birthing parent, after the end of your pregnancy allowance. During your parental leave, Kela provides 320 weekdays of parental allowance for one child, with multiple-birth families receiving 84 additional days. If there are two parents, the parental allowance days are divided between the parents. The amount of parental allowance (in euros) is determined on the basis of the recipient’s income. Adoptive parents are also entitled to parental leave and a parental allowance.

To receive parental allowance, you must care of your child at home and not go to work.

If you are in an employment relationship, you must agree with your employer on your parental leave period, and you also need to determine whether you will be paid a salary for the duration of your leave. You will need this information when applying for your parental allowance from Kela.

Read more about parental allowance on Kela’s website.Opens in a new window.

You can go on a child care leave when the right to parental leave ends. You can be on child care leave until your child turns three. Adoptivförälderns rätt till vårdledighet fortgår tills två år har förflutit från adoptionen, men högst tills barnet börjar skolan. Endast en förälder i taget kan vara vårdledig.

During child care leave, you can receive child home care allowance from Kela if your child is under the age of 3, the child does not attend municipal early childhood education and care, and 160 working days have passed since the child was born. Your right to home care allowance begins immediately after the end of your parental allowance, even if you are on annual leave. An adoptive parent can also apply for child home care allowance.

Read more about child care and early childhood education in Suomi.fi.

Read more about child home care allowance in Kela webpage.Opens in a new window.