Eligibility criteria for special pregnancy allowance will change

Summary:

What will change?

The list of risk factors that are a ground for granting special pregnancy allowance will be supplemented. In addition, it will also be possible to grant special pregnancy allowance as a partial allowance.

When will the changes enter into force?

The changes will impact customers who are granted special pregnancy allowance on or after 1 January 2026.

What do customers have to do?

Henceforth, it will also be possible to apply for special pregnancy allowance as a partial allowance. When a customer is exposed to risk factors in their work, the customer must primarily talk with the employer about the possibility of removing the risk factor, limiting exposure to the risk factor or changing to other job duties. The occupational health doctor or another doctor who is familiar with the circumstances at the workplace assesses the exposure to risk factors as well as when it is necessary and relevant to apply for special pregnancy allowance or partial special pregnancy allowance.

Special pregnancy allowance can be granted to persons who have to stay away from work before the pregnancy leave because their work poses a risk to their pregnancy.

Kela predicts that the number of applications will increase

Parliament has approved the proposed changes to the Health Insurance Act. The list of risk factors that are a ground for granting special pregnancy allowance will be supplemented with risk factors that may pose a risk to the pregnant employee or the foetus. Risk factors that will be added include for instance noise, vibration, blows, motion and handling loads. Following the change, the list of risk factors corresponds to the national and international rules on protection of pregnant employees.

Henceforth, the special pregnancy allowance can also be granted as a partial allowance, if the pregnant employee can continue in their work part-time and the daily working hours are at the most 5 hours. There is no right to partial special pregnancy allowance for days of work of more than 5 hours. 

There is also no right to special pregnancy allowance if work that does not pose a risk to the pregnancy can be arranged for part of the week or for a longer period. In such case, the employee may, however, have the right to special pregnancy allowance for days when it is not possible to arrange work that does not pose a risk to the pregnant employee.

Following the change, a larger number of persons may be entitled to special pregnancy allowance.

“Since the number of applications will increase, the processing of the applications may take longer,” says Johanna Aholainen, Head of the Centre of Expertise.

The primary goal is that the employee can continue working

When a pregnant employee is exposed to risk factors in their work, the employee, the employer and the occupational health services assess the situation together. The primary goal is that the employee can continue working safely during the pregnancy.

The employer is obliged to offer other work if it is not possible to remove or limit the risk factor so that the employee can continue in their usual job.

“A risk factor does not automatically mean absence from work. It is more about adjusting the work circumstances so that the employee’s safety can be ensured,” says Aholainen.

If there are no other job duties on offer and the risk factor cannot be removed, the occupational health doctor or another doctor who is familiar with the circumstances at the workplace assesses the risks and risk factors of the work. The doctor also assesses when it is necessary and relevant to apply for special pregnancy allowance.

When applying for special pregnancy allowance, the employee must file the employer’s report on the work circumstances and the absence as well as a statement from the occupational health doctor with Kela. Kela makes a decision on the special pregnancy allowance. Kela can pay the benefit up until the actual pregnancy leave begins.

Special pregnancy allowance does not count against the actual pregnancy allowance days to which the employee may be entitled. Self-employed persons can also apply for special pregnancy allowance.

More information

Customer service for individual customers
Private persons can use the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) or call our customer service at 020 634 2550. Customer service is available by phone in English from 9.00 to 15.00 on weekdays (Monday to Friday).

More information for employers

Customer service for employers is available by phone, and in non-urgent cases by secured email. Many issues can also be handled online in the e-service for employers.

Kela’s physician phone service
Kela’s medical advisors answer questions from doctors by phone Tuesday to Thursday from 12.00 to 15.00 at 020 371 015.