Child benefit to be increased for children under the age of three

Parliament has approved an EUR 26 increase to the child benefit paid for children under the age of three. The increase will apply from 1 April 2024. Payment of the increased rate will begin with the child benefit payments for April, which will be paid on 26 April 2024. 

The new rate for one child under three will be EUR 120.88 per month. If a family receives child benefit for several children under the age of three, the amount of child benefit per month will be EUR 130.84 for the second child under three, EUR 159.79 for the third child, EUR 199.24 for the fourth child, and EUR 218.69 for each additional child. No action is required from customers, as Kela will process the increases to the child benefit automatically.

The child benefit is paid from the beginning of the month following the birth of the child. The child benefit is paid on the 26th of every month. If the 26th is a Saturday, Sunday, Monday or a holiday, the benefit is paid on the preceding banking day.   The increased child benefit is paid until the end of the month in which the child turns 3 years old.

The changes to the child benefit do not apply to child benefit paid in the Åland Islands. The amounts of child benefit in the Åland Islands are decided by the Government of Åland. 

Other increases have also been made to the child benefit, and came into force at the beginning of 2024.

Read more 

Child benefits to be increased on 1 January 2024 and 1 April 2024 (press release 18 December 2023)

Child benefit | Our services | Kela

Benefits for families in plain Finnish or Swedish | Plain language | Kela