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Financial support
General allowances for families with children
Kela supports families with children through several benefits, including maternity allowance, child benefit, pregnancy allowance and parental allowance.
You can apply for the maternity grant and pregnancy allowance if your pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days and you have a pregnancy certificate from the maternity clinic or a doctor.
You can apply for pregnancy allowance and parental allowance using the same. You can also apply for child benefit before the child is born.
Learn more about benefits for families with children on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
After parental leave, you can arrange your child's care in different ways. Your child can be in municipal or private early childhood education, or you can look after them at home. If your child does not attend municipal early childhood education, child care benefits paid by Kela include child home care allowance, private day care allowance, flexible care allowance, and partial care allowance.
Read more about Kela's child care allowances on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
Special needs families can also apply for special care allowance and disability allowance for persons under 16 years of age from Kela.
Special care allowance
You can apply for special care allowance if you are unable to do your regular work because you need to participate in the care or rehabilitation of a child under the age of 16 with an illness or disability.
You cannot get special care allowance while you participate in the care of the child if you are receiving a wage or salary or Kela is paying you a daily allowance at the same time. Daily allowances paid by Kela include maternity and special maternity allowance, paternity allowance, parental allowance, and sickness allowance.
If you are being paid special care allowance, you cannot receive an unemployment allowance or a labour market subsidy at the same time.
Read more about special care allowance on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
Disability allowance
The family can receive a disability allowance for a child under 16 years of age if the child needs more care than a child of the same age who does not have a disability or health condition.
The greater need may be due to, for example:
- the child’s sudden attacks or bouts of illness and medication
- the child’s greater need of assistance with daily activities
- the child’s greater need of supervision compared to other children their age.
The need for increased care and attention must last for at least 6 months.
Read more about the disability allowance for children under 16(Link leads to external service)
Rehabilitation services by Kela
Kela provides rehabilitation services that are especially aimed at children or families with children.
Rehabilitation and adaptation training courses
Rehabilitation and adaptation training courses help your child and family adjust to the changes brought about by an illness or disability. The course provides clients with support and rehabilitation. During the course, the rehabilitant receives information about their diagnosis, peer support, and help for managing daily life.
Rehabilitation is free of charge. You may be entitled to a rehabilitation allowance during the rehabilitation of your child.
Read more about the rehabilitation allowance(Link leads to external service)
Kela also reimburses trips made to rehabilitation. Read more about the reimbursement of travel costs(Link leads to external service)
LAKU family rehabilitation
LAKU family rehabilitation is aimed at children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 15 years who have been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, an autism spectrum disorder, or Tourette's syndrome.
Read more about LAKU family rehabilitation on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
Rehabilitation is free of charge. You may be entitled to a rehabilitation allowance during the rehabilitation of your child.
Read more about the rehabilitation allowance(Link leads to external service)
Kela also reimburses trips made to rehabilitation. Read more about the reimbursement of travel costs(Link leads to external service)
Multidisciplinary individual rehabilitation
Multidisciplinary individual rehabilitation aims to improve and support a person’s capacity to function in their everyday life. It is arranged for children and adolescents with a broad range of symptoms which cause of variety of problems. Services are provided especially to children with sensory impairments.
Rehabilitation is free of charge. You may be entitled to a rehabilitation allowance during the rehabilitation of your child.
Read more about the rehabilitation allowance(Link leads to external service)
Kela also reimburses trips made to rehabilitation. Read more about the reimbursement of travel costs(Link leads to external service)
Intensive medical rehabilitation
Intensive medical rehabilitation may be required when a child's illness or disability causes considerable difficulties in everyday life.
Read more about intensive medical rehabilitation on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
Rehabilitation is free of charge. You may be entitled to a rehabilitation allowance during the rehabilitation of your child.
Read more about the rehabilitation allowance(Link leads to external service)
Kela also reimburses trips made to rehabilitation. Read more about the reimbursement of travel costs(Link leads to external service)