Who is this guide for?
This guide is for you if your family is expecting a child, a child has recently been born, or you want to understand which Kela family benefits you should check next.
This is not a benefit calculator or a detailed Kela guide. Family Guide shows when different types of support may become relevant in the family path and where the official Kela guidance is.
What support does Kela provide for families?
Kela can pay benefits to families with children at different stages: pregnancy, parental leave, the child's birth and child care arrangements. Support always depends on the situation: who cares for the child, whether a parent works or is on leave, whether the family lives in Finland, whether the child is registered and which applications have already been submitted.
Main order of Kela family benefits
Step 1
Pregnancy: check the pregnancy certificate and pregnancy-stage benefits
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 2
Before birth: claim maternity grant if the conditions are met
This is the next point in the route.
Step 3
After birth: check parental allowance and child benefit
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 4
When child care arrangements change: check childcare allowances
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 5
When the child moves to daycare: continue to municipal early childhood education guidance
This is the next point in the route.
If a condition, amount or deadline matters for your decision, always check Kela's official page. The rules can depend on the family's exact life situation.
Pregnancy allowance
Pregnancy allowance is a benefit for the parent giving birth during pregnancy leave. According to Kela guidance, a pregnancy certificate is usually needed for the application.
At Family Guide level, the main order is: first the maternity and child health clinic and pregnancy certificate, then the Kela application. If your employer pays salary during pregnancy leave, this can affect who Kela pays the benefit to.
When is this relevant?
Pregnancy allowance becomes relevant before the child is born, when pregnancy leave and Kela applications are current.
Parental allowance
Parental allowance is connected to the time when a parent or another entitled person cares for the child during parental leave. It can become relevant after the child is born and, in some situations, in adoption.
The details depend on guardianship, confirmation of parenthood, work, studies, moving countries and how parents divide allowance days. That is why this guide does not calculate days, but points to Kela's official guidance.
Do not guess the days yourself
If there is moving between countries, a foreign benefit, one parent, adoption or multiple births, check Kela guidance before applying.
Maternity grant
Maternity grant can be received as a maternity package or as a cash benefit. It is different from pregnancy allowance and parental allowance.
According to Kela's Families page, maternity grant should be claimed before the expected date of birth within the deadline given by Kela. Always check the current deadline and attachments on Kela's page.
Package or cash?
The family chooses the maternity package or cash benefit according to Kela guidance. This choice is not the same as parental allowance.
Child benefit
Child benefit is a benefit for a child under 17 if Kela's conditions are met. According to Kela, payment usually starts from the beginning of the month after the child's birth.
Child benefit can be affected by residence in Finland, guardianship, living with the child, the family's move and situations where another country pays family benefits. Check your situation on Kela's page.
DVV first, Kela next
Child registration and the personal identity code make Kela matters easier. That is why this step comes after child registration in the Family route.
Childcare allowances
Several Kela benefits may relate to child care. Here, Family Guide only gives the map:
• Child home care allowance may be relevant if a child under 3 is cared for at home and does not attend municipal early childhood education. • Private day care allowance may relate to private early childhood education or a hired caregiver. • Flexible care allowance may relate to a parent working part-time and caring for a child under 3. • Partial care allowance may relate to a parent working part-time while the child is in the first school years.
This is not a daycare-place application
Kela processes benefits. The municipality organises early childhood education and daycare places under local guidance.
When to apply
Each Kela benefit has its own deadlines and attachments. The same family may submit several applications at different times: first pregnancy-related applications, then benefits after birth, and later child care allowances.
Practical application rhythm
Step 1
Check Kela's page to see which benefit matches your stage
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 2
Make sure the child or family record is registered at DVV if needed
This is the next point in the route.
Step 3
Collect a certificate, decision or other attachment if Kela asks for it
Prepare clear documents and attachments before sending.
Step 4
Submit the application in OmaKela or on a form
Check the details carefully before submitting.
Step 5
Follow the decision, requests for additional information and payment dates in Kela's service
Check the amount and pay the fee according to the service guidance.
If a deadline is close or you do not understand a condition, contact Kela or ask for help before leaving the matter waiting.
If you need a sign language interpreter
If you need a sign language interpreter for Kela matters, arrange the interpreting service early. Kela's interpreting service for disabled people is a separate service that requires a Kela decision.
Before the appointment, write down what you want to clarify: pregnancy allowance, parental allowance, maternity grant, child benefit or childcare allowance. This helps the interpreter and Kela customer service.