Kela LU 1e (03.25) — Claim for Child Maintenance Allowance (Elatustuki)

What is Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim?

Child maintenance allowance (elatustuki) is a Kela benefit that secures a child's maintenance in Finland when child support from the other parent doesn't arrive or isn't enough. Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, pays it in six situations listed on the form: the person liable to pay child support has neglected confirmed payments; support has been set lower than the allowance, or at €0.00, because of the payer's financial difficulties; the paternity of the child hasn't been established; child support couldn't be confirmed when parenthood was established; or you have adopted the child as a single parent. Form LU 1e is the English claim.

When the claim is based on neglected payments, Kela can also collect the child support debt from the person who owes it — for a longer period than the allowance itself covers — and passes the collected payments on to you. That is why the form asks about the paying parent, any enforcement (ulosotto) already under way, and payments made since the neglect started.

FileIt guides you through LU 1e in plain English and prints your answers into Kela's own official PDF, edition 03.25. It pre-fills your name and e-mail from your vault, checks personal identity codes and your IBAN, prints amounts Finnish style, and follows the form's own rules — such as asking you to explain in section 8 if you claim more than 3 months back. The PDF is saved in your vault and can be sent for e-signature. You deliver it to Kela yourself; FileIt never sends anything to Kela.

Who needs to fill out Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim?

• A parent whose ex-partner has stopped paying confirmed child support, fully or in part.
• A parent whose child support was set low, or at zero, because the other parent has financial difficulties.
• A parent whose child's paternity has not been established, so the child has only one parent liable for maintenance.
• A single adoptive parent.
• A young person aged 15 or over claiming for themselves.
• A guardian or the wellbeing services county acting for the child.

When to use Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim

• As soon as confirmed child support payments stop or fall short — the claim can only go back 3 months.
• When a maintenance agreement or court decision sets support below the allowance or at €0.00.
• After a single-parent adoption, or when paternity is not established.
• If you claim for more than 3 months back, use section 8 to explain why the claim is late.
• Tell Kela if the paying parent makes payments to you after you have claimed.

What you need before you start

• Your personal identity code and bank account number (IBAN).
• The original child support agreement or court decision (reason a), or a copy of the maintenance agreement or decision (reasons b and c).
• The date from which child support has not been paid, and the total paid since then, if anything.
• The name, personal identity code and, if abroad, the address of the person liable to pay child support.
• The enforcement case number, if the arrears are already being collected by enforcement.
• Each child's name and personal identity code (room for three).
• Details of any regular income a child has had for more than 6 months, with a certificate for income not in the Incomes Register.
• Form Y 77e if the children have moved to Finland and not claimed Kela benefits before, or Y 38e if they are travelling abroad.

What’s on Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim

The 2025 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 9 parts, and it is signed by Claimant:

1. 1 ClaimantClaimant
2. 2 Bank account numberClaimant
3. 3 ClaimClaimant
4. 4 Person liable to pay child supportClaimant
5. 5 Information about the collection of child support arrearsClaimant
6. 6 The children whom the claim concernsClaimant
7. 7 Income of the childClaimant
8. 8 Additional informationClaimant
9. 9 SignatureClaimant

How to fill out Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim, step by step

1 1. Claimant

Your personal identity code, name, phone and e-mail, and who is claiming: the child's parent, the child him- or herself (aged 15 or over), someone else (say who), or the wellbeing services county, which then fills in the necessary details in section 8. Kela gets the address from the population data system.

2 2. Bank account number

The IBAN the allowance is paid into.

3 3. Claim

Give the date you claim from and choose the reason (a to f). For reason (a), give the date since when confirmed child support has not been paid, completely or in part, and say whether anything has been paid since — and how much in total. Enclose the original child support agreement or court decision. For reasons (b) and (c), enclose a copy of the agreement or decision. Reason (d) doesn't apply if paternity or maternity was acknowledged before the birth. Reason (e) needs an explanation in section 8.

4 4. Person liable to pay child support

The name and personal identity code of the parent who owes child support, and their address if they live abroad.

5 5. Information about the collection of child support arrears

Are the arrears being collected by enforcement, in Finland or another country? If so, give the enforcement case number. By claiming, you agree that the enforcement payments are stopped while Kela processes the claim.

6 6. The children whom the claim concerns

Name and personal identity code of each child — one form covers all children who share the same paying parent or the same reason. Say whether any of them lives abroad, and which child in which country.

7 7. Income of the child

Only if a child has had regular income from work or investments for a continuous period of more than 6 months. Kela doesn't pay the allowance if the child can support him- or herself and the income exceeds specified limits. Kela gets salaries from the Incomes Register; enclose a certificate for investment or other income.

8 8. Additional information

Anything Kela should consider, with the section number. If you claim more than 3 months retroactively, explain here why the claim is late.

9 9. Signature

Place and date and your signature under the declaration that the information is true and that you will notify any changes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting too long — the allowance can only be claimed 3 months back, even though Kela can collect older child support debt.
• Forgetting the original child support agreement or court decision for reason (a).
• Not mentioning payments the other parent made after the neglect date, or after you claimed.
• Choosing reason (e) or claiming more than 3 months back without explaining in section 8.
• A child under 15 claiming for themselves — the form requires the child to be 15 or over.
• Leaving out the enforcement case number when the arrears are already being collected.

After you fill it out

Check the PDF and sign section 9. Sign a printed copy by hand, or use FileIt's optional e-signature if you will upload the claim.

The form tells you to send the claim and supporting documents by post to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA, or to file them online at www.kela.fi/english. FileIt does not submit the claim for you.

Keep your copy in the FileIt vault together with the maintenance agreement or court decision. Tell Kela if the paying parent makes child support payments to you after the claim, or if anything else changes.

Kela LU 1e - child maintenance allowance claim: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela): https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/LU1e.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.kela.fi/child-maintenance-allowance
• Edition shown on this page: LU 1e 03.25 (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-26.

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