Finland’s child benefit, lapsilisa, is one of the cleanest parts of the family-support system because it is paid for children rather than tested against household income. For 2026, Kela says the benefit stays unchanged, with the main mainland rate starting at 94.88 euros per month for the first child and rising for each eligible child paid to the same recipient. The payment is tax-free, it normally runs until the end of the month in which the child turns 17, and it can be topped up for children under 3 and for single parents.
This guide sets out the 2026 monthly amounts, shows worked family examples, explains the payment dates and points out the traps that matter when parents separate, move between countries or live in the Aland Islands. The figures come from Kela’s child benefit page and its 2026 benefit-rate notice, both checked on 25 September 2026.
Who can get child benefit in Finland?
Kela pays child benefit for a child under 17 when the child lives permanently in Finland and the applicant is the parent, guardian or another person responsible for the child’s care. The usual recipient is one parent, and parents can decide which parent receives the money. If parents live apart and do not agree, Kela pays the parent with whom the child lives and who mainly handles day-to-day care.
The payment starts from the beginning of the month after the child’s birth. It ends at the end of the month in which the child turns 17. That age rule is useful for budgeting because a child who turns 17 in June has June as the final payment month, while a younger sibling continues as long as they remain eligible.
Moving can change the answer. Families moving to Finland may qualify once their Kela coverage is established, and workers in Finland may have rights even if the child lives in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland. If another country also pays family benefits, the systems are coordinated rather than stacked without limits. That is an area where Kela should be asked before the money is treated as permanent income.
Monthly rates in 2026
The mainland 2026 rates rise with the number of eligible children whose child benefit is granted to the same recipient.
| Child in the family | Monthly child benefit |
|---|---|
| First child | 94.88 euros |
| Second child | 104.84 euros |
| Third child | 133.79 euros |
| Fourth child | 173.24 euros |
| Fifth and each additional child | 192.69 euros |
The order matters because the fifth-child rate is more than double the first-child rate. It also matters who receives the benefits. Kela says the increased amount is available only when all child benefits are granted to the same person. In a separated family, changing the recipient can therefore change the total paid to each household.
Child benefit is tax-free income. It does not need to be reported as taxable pay, and it does not reduce take-home salary in the way that payroll contributions do. To see it beside net wages, use the Finland salary calculator for pay and then add the benefit as a separate family cash-flow line. If you are building a monthly plan, the 50/30/20 budget calculator can treat the benefit as income assigned to childcare, rent, food or savings.
Under-3 supplement
Kela pays an extra 26 euros per month for each child under 3. This is added on top of the child’s position-based amount. A first child under 3 therefore brings 120.88 euros per month on the mainland, made of 94.88 euros plus 26 euros. A second child under 3 brings 130.84 euros. The supplement stops when the child ages out of the under-3 rule, so a household budget should not lock it into permanent spending.
Here are the 2026 totals for common cases:
| Family situation | Monthly total |
|---|---|
| One child, age 3 or older | 94.88 euros |
| One child, under 3 | 120.88 euros |
| Two children, both age 3 or older | 199.72 euros |
| Two children, one under 3 | 225.72 euros |
| Three children, one under 3 | 359.51 euros |
| Four children, two under 3 | 558.75 euros |
The last row matches Kela’s own example: four child-position rates total 506.75 euros, and two under-3 supplements add 52 euros.
Single-parent supplement
The single-parent supplement is 73.30 euros per month for each child for whom the parent receives child benefit. It can apply if the parent is not married or cohabiting, or is legally separated. Kela says the supplement can also be granted when parents have shared custody, provided the applicant meets the single-parent condition.
This supplement is easy to miss because it has to match the parent’s real living situation. A parent who starts cohabiting or marries usually loses the single-parent supplement even if the child benefit itself continues. Kela expects changes in circumstances to be reported through OmaKela or with a new application where needed.
For example, one parent receiving child benefit for two children aged 5 and 8 would get 199.72 euros of ordinary child benefit. If the single-parent supplement applies for both children, the monthly payment rises by 146.60 euros, taking the total to 346.32 euros. Add one under-3 child to that household and the total changes again because the ordinary third-child amount and the 26 euro under-3 supplement both enter the calculation.
Aland Islands amounts
The Aland Islands have their own rates, financed by the Aland Government, although residents apply through Kela. The 2026 monthly amounts listed by Kela are 110 euros for the first child, 143 euros for the second, 185 euros for the third, 214 euros for the fourth, and 259 euros for the fifth and each additional child. The Aland single-parent supplement is 80 euros per month for each eligible child.
That difference is large enough to matter when a family moves. A mainland family with three children aged 3 or older receives 333.51 euros per month before any single-parent supplement. In Aland, the same child count is 438 euros per month. If the family moves permanently, Kela says the change should be reported so the correct regional rules can be applied.
Payment dates in 2026
Kela publishes monthly child benefit payment dates. For 2026 the listed dates are:
| Month | Payment date |
|---|---|
| January | 23 January |
| February | 26 February |
| March | 26 March |
| April | 24 April |
| May | 26 May |
| June | 26 June |
| July | 24 July |
| August | 26 August |
| September | 25 September |
| October | 23 October |
| November | 26 November |
| December | 23 December |
Because the date shifts around weekends and banking days, it is better to budget around the published date rather than assume the same day every month. A family using child benefit for nursery fees or rent should keep a small buffer so a 23rd-to-26th shift does not create a shortfall.
Worked examples
Take a two-child family where the older child is 5 and the younger child is 1. The first child rate is 94.88 euros and the second child rate is 104.84 euros. The younger child also brings the 26 euro under-3 supplement. The monthly total is 225.72 euros, or 2,708.64 euros over a full 12 months if the family circumstances do not change.
Now take a single parent with three children aged 2, 7 and 10. Ordinary child benefit is 94.88 euros plus 104.84 euros plus 133.79 euros, or 333.51 euros. The under-3 supplement adds 26 euros. The single-parent supplement adds 73.30 euros for each of the three children, or 219.90 euros. The total is 579.41 euros per month.
For a five-child household with all children aged at least 3, the mainland total is 699.44 euros per month. If one child is under 3, add 26 euros. If two are under 3, add 52 euros. That is why the exact ages and the single recipient rule matter more than a quick average per child.
How to use the figures in a family budget
Child benefit is dependable, but it is not a full childcare budget. Treat it as a dated monthly inflow and map it against bills that arrive near Kela’s payment date. If the benefit pays on the 26th and day-care fees leave the account on the 15th, it may be safer to hold the previous month’s child benefit in a separate account.
The benefit also changes at clear milestones: a child turns 3, a child turns 17, parents separate or start living together, a new child is born, or the family moves. Put those dates into your annual budget before committing the full amount to recurring spending. For savings goals, the compound interest calculator can show what happens if part of the monthly benefit is invested for school supplies, hobbies or a future move.
FAQ
How much is Finland child benefit in 2026? On the mainland it starts at 94.88 euros per month for the first child, then 104.84 euros for the second, 133.79 euros for the third, 173.24 euros for the fourth, and 192.69 euros for the fifth and each additional child.
Is Finnish child benefit taxable? No. Kela states that child benefit is tax-free income.
How much extra is paid for a child under 3? The under-3 increase is 26 euros per month for each eligible child under the age of 3.
What is the single-parent supplement in 2026? The mainland single-parent supplement is 73.30 euros per month for each child for whom the parent receives child benefit.
When does child benefit stop? It is paid until the end of the month in which the child turns 17, provided the other conditions are still met.
Are the Aland Islands rates the same as mainland Finland? No. Kela lists higher Aland rates, starting at 110 euros per month for the first child and rising to 259 euros for the fifth and each additional child.
These figures are general information for household planning, not personal benefits advice. Sources: Kela, Child benefit, and Kela, Changes to Kela benefits in 2026, checked on 25 September 2026.