Changes in the value of the early childhood education service voucher and client charges

There will be changes in the value of the early childhood education service voucher and related client charges.  The changes concerning the income limits, weekly hour limits and the minimum and maximum client charges will take effect on 1 August 2024.

As of August, the minimum client charge is EUR 30 per child per month and the maximum client charge is EUR 311 per child per month. You can find the new limits below. The changes will affect most clients’ charges, so we will send new decisions on the value of the service voucher to all clients in late August or early September.

In terms of the changes in the income limits, a new income statement is not required if your family’s income information is up to date. A new income statement is only needed if the income of an adult or a child living in the same household has changed.

In addition, the maximum value of the service voucher will be subject to an index increase as of 1 June 2024. The index increase will only affect the reimbursement paid to the service providers by the city, not the amount paid by clients. However, we will also send new decisions on the value of the service voucher to all clients in June.

The service voucher client charge for early childhood education depends on the family’s income and size, the hours of early childhood education needed by the child (hrs/week) and a possible sibling discount. In addition to the client charge, service voucher day care centres may charge an additional fee of EUR 0–50 per child per month.

The service voucher client charge is calculated as a percentage of the family’s gross income. The maximum charge is EUR 311 per child per month as of 1 August 2024. When a child attends early childhood education for at least 35 hours a week, the client charge is 10.7% of the amount of the family’s income that exceeds the specified minimum gross income limit.

If your family’s income exceeds the maximum gross income limit, you will pay the highest possible client charge. If your income is lower than the minimum gross income limit, no client charge is collected. Client charges of less than EUR 30/month are not collected at all. 

The income limits will be subject to an index adjustment as of 1 August 2024. The table below shows the gross income limit for the minimum and maximum charge based on your family size after the change takes effect. 

An example of how the client charge is calculated:

• The family size is three persons and the family’s total gross income is EUR 6,000/month.
• EUR 6,000–5,245 (minimum gross income from the table above) = EUR 755.
• EUR 755 x 0.107 (payment percentage 10.7%) = EUR 80.79 --> EUR 81/month is the service voucher client charge for the youngest child when they attend early childhood education for at least 35 hours per week.

The tables below show how the weekly hours of early childhood education affect the service voucher client charge as of 1 August 2024. Please note that the daily hours of early childhood education also affect the client charge. If necessary, you can contact the director of your child’s early childhood education unit for more information.