Kela obliged to report changes in the economic situation of parents liable to provide maintenance

Child support is the amount that the parent liable to pay maintenance for a child must pay for the maintenance of their child. The amount of child support is confirmed in a maintenance agreement or in a court order.

The child maintenance allowance is a family benefit paid by Kela to provide economic security to children who are not adequately provided for by both parents.

Kela’s role as regards child support will not change

Parliament has decided that, as from 1 January 2026, Kela has the right to check the economic situation of parents liable to provide maintenance when child maintenance allowance has been applied for or is paid for the child due to the liable parent’s reduced ability to provide maintenance. Kela will do this check on the basis of the income and tax information of the person liable for maintenance. Kela is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of the liable parent’s improved economic situation if it possible that the ability to provide maintenance should be assessed again.

Kela’s obligation to notify the wellbeing services county also applies to situations where the liable parent’s economic situation has deteriorated and the parent has repeatedly been granted exemption from payment of child support debt.

Even when the Act on Child Maintenance Allowance is amended, Kela will still not have the power to decide the amount of child support. Kela can only forward the information on the change in the liable parent’s economic situation to the wellbeing services county. Also henceforth, the child welfare officer assesses whether the amount of child support should be changed.

The amendment also does not affect the child maintenance allowance from Kela.

It is still primarily the liable parent who is obliged to notify changes

Also after the legislative change, it is primarily the parent liable to provide maintenance who is obliged to notify the wellbeing services county of changes in their ability to provide maintenance for their child. This way, the child support can be reviewed, when necessary, so that it corresponds to the actual ability to provide maintenance.

The legislative amendment aims to strengthen the primary nature of the child support in securing maintenance for the child and secure the child’s right to sufficient maintenance.

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Child maintenance allowance (kela.fi)