lapsilisä

Lapsilisä, or child allowance, is a monthly cash benefit provided by the Finnish government to families with children. It is administered by Kela, the Finnish Social Insurance Institution. The purpose of lapsilisä is to help with the costs of raising children and to support child welfare. The benefit is universal in nature, and is not based on family income.

Eligibility and payment are tied to the child rather than the parent’s income. The benefit is paid for each child who resides in Finland and is under 17 years of age. The guardian who has primary responsibility for the child generally receives the payment, which is transferred monthly to the guardian’s bank account. In cases of custody arrangements, Kela administers the payment according to applicable rules, and changes such as births or changes in custody should be reported to Kela.

Amount and age structure: The monthly lapsilisä varies with the child’s age; younger children receive a higher monthly amount, with the rate adjusting as the child grows older. There is also a differential component for families with multiple children. The exact figures are updated annually by the government and published by Kela.

Administration: In usual cases, guardians receive lapsilisä without separate applications, once Kela has the necessary information about the child. If circumstances change (births, custody arrangements, or moving abroad), the guardian should contact Kela to ensure correct payment.

Related benefits: Lapsilisä is one element of Finland’s family benefits system, which also includes other supports such as home care allowances and various child-related benefits.