Changes in qualifying criteria for child home care allowance as of 1 January 2027

Parliament has approved amendments to legislation that applies to child home care allowance (kotihoidon tuki). The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

New residency requirement for child home care allowance

Starting from 1 January 2027, Kela will pay child home care allowance to recipients who have lived in Finland or another EU or EEA country for at least 3 years. The period of residence will be calculated starting from the date when the person who applies for the allowance turned 16.

The residency requirement will also apply to Finnish citizens. However, the requirement will not apply to persons who have moved to Finland before 1 January 2027 or to persons under the age of 19.

Allowance paid only to a parent who looks after their child themselves

Starting from 1 January 2027, Kela will pay child home care allowance only to a parent who looks after their child themselves. Currently, Kela can pay the allowance even if someone else who is not the child’s parent looks after the child.

Allowance periods granted before 1 January 2027 paid out normally

Kela will pay out periods of child home care allowance that begin or have begun before 1 January 2027 in accordance with the earlier qualifying criteria. Kela will apply the new qualifying criteria only to new applications and follow-up applications for child home care allowance.

More information

Child home care allowance (kela.fi)