Home care allowance in Finland 2026: how much for caring at home?
The home care allowance is paid when a child under 3 is cared for at home and is not in municipal early education. It consists of a fixed care allowance (€377.68/month for one child under 3) and an income-tested care supplement (up to €202.12/month). A low-income family can get up to about €580/month in total for one child.
In addition, many municipalities pay their own supplement (e.g. Helsinki €264, Espoo €160). Below are what the allowance consists of, how income affects it and how several children are counted.
- €377.68
- care allowance /mo (1 child under 3)
- €202.12
- care supplement max /mo
- €580
- together max (low income)
- 3 yr
- youngest child under
What does the home care allowance consist of in 2026?
The care allowance is fixed and not affected by family income. The care supplement is income-tested and paid for one child only: the full supplement is €202.12/month and it decreases as the family’s gross income exceeds the household-size threshold, down to zero. In a two-person family the full supplement is paid up to an income of €1,160.04/month.
| Child | Care allowance /month |
|---|---|
| One child under 3 | €377.68 |
| Other children under 3 (per child) | €113.07 |
| Siblings over 3 (under school age) | €72.66 |
| Care supplement (one child only) | up to €202.12 |
Does the municipality pay extra?
Many municipalities pay their own supplement on top of the national allowance, and it varies a lot: for example Helsinki about €264/month and Espoo €160/month, while Tampere and Turku pay none. The home care allowance is taxable income and requires the family’s youngest child to be under 3.
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FAQ
How much is the home care allowance in 2026?
For one child under 3 the care allowance is €377.68/month. A low-income family can also get a supplement of up to €202.12/month, for a total of up to about €580/month — plus a municipal supplement in many areas.
What is the difference between the allowance and the supplement?
The care allowance is a fixed part independent of income (€377.68/month for one child under 3). The supplement is income-tested (up to €202.12/month), paid for one child only and decreasing as income rises.
Does income affect the allowance?
The care allowance is unaffected, but the supplement is income-tested. It decreases as the family’s gross income exceeds the threshold (€1,160.04/month for a two-person family) and stops at the upper limit.
Can you get it for several children?
The care allowance is paid for each child cared for at home: €377.68 for one under 3, €113.07 for other under-3s and €72.66/month for over-3 siblings. The supplement, however, is paid for one child only.
Does the municipality pay extra?
Many municipalities pay their own supplement: for example Helsinki about €264/month and Espoo €160/month, while Tampere and Turku pay none. Check your own municipality’s supplement.