Vanhempainraha

Vanhempainraha is a Finnish social security benefit provided by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. It is intended to compensate parents for income lost when they take time off work to care for a newborn child. The benefit is paid to parents of children born or adopted in Finland.

There are two main types of vanhempainraha: vanhempainpäiväraha and isyysraha. Vanhempainpäiväraha is the general parental allowance, which can be taken by either parent. Isyysraha, or paternity leave, is a specific allowance for fathers, granting them a separate period of leave. Both allowances are paid for a limited number of days.

To be eligible for vanhempainraha, parents must have been insured in Finland for a certain period before the expected due date or adoption. The amount of the benefit is typically based on the parent's income, with a minimum daily allowance guaranteed. Parents can choose how to divide the vanhempainpäiväraha days between them, although the isyysraha days are reserved for the father.

The purpose of vanhempainraha is to support child-rearing and enable parents to spend time with their new child without facing significant financial hardship. It is a key component of Finland's family policy, aiming to promote gender equality in parental leave and support early childhood development. The benefit is taxable income.