How are Kela benefits affected by a death in the family?
The death of a child, a spouse or a partner can affect the benefits you get from Kela. We are sincerely sorry for your loss.
The death of a loved one is always a terrible tragedy. If you find it difficult to handle Kela-related matters, please contact our customer service. We are always ready to help you.
If your child dies
If a child is stillborn or dies at birth or soon thereafter, the parents can continue receiving pregnancy allowance and parental allowance for a while after. Special pregnancy allowance is paid until the premature end of the pregnancy.
Read more about how a child’s death will affect the payment of daily allowances for parents.
The death of a child may also affect the following benefits paid to families with children:
- child benefit
- child home care allowance
- private day care allowance
- child maintenance allowance
The death of a child may also affect the payment of the following benefits:
- general housing allowance
- social assistance
- conscript’s allowance
- child increase for pensioners
- housing allowance for pensioners
If a child’s parent dies
If one of your parents dies when you are under the age of 18, you can get an orphan’s pension.
Apply for an orphan’s pension by filling out the form Orphan’s pension ETK/Kela 7005e (PDF). Send the form to us in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish). Alternatively, you can mail the form and any supporting documents to us at Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
The death of a child’s parent may also affect the payment of the following benefits:
- student financial aid
- general social security benefit
- general housing allowance
- social assistance
If a person who was liable for the maintenance of a child dies, Kela will not pay child maintenance allowance on their behalf.
If your spouse or partner dies
If your spouse or partner dies, you can get a spouse’s pension. You can get this pension if you and your spouse or partner were married or in a registered partnership. If you and your partner were cohabiting, you may be eligible for a spouse’s pension if you had a child under the age of 18 together with your partner.
Apply for a spouse’s pension by filling out the form Spouse’s pension ETK/Kela 7004e (PDF). Send the form to us in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish). Alternatively, you can mail the form and any supporting documents to us at Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
The death of a spouse or partner may also affect the payment of the following benefits:
- general housing allowance
- social assistance
- conscript’s allowance
- housing allowance for pensioners