Familia, Finland's leading advocacy organization for intercultural families, has expressed serious concerns over the government's proposed amendments to the Home Care Allowance Act (HE 69/2026 vp). The proposal would introduce a requirement that a parent or guardian must have lived in Finland for at least three years before becoming eligible for home care allowance for children under the age of three.

According to Familia, the proposal risks placing intercultural and immigrant families in an unequal position compared to other families in Finland. The organization argues that access to social security should not depend on a family's nationality background or length of residence when children living in Finland have the same needs and rights regardless of their parents' origins.

Familia warns that the proposed reform could increase financial insecurity among families with young children and create additional barriers for newly arrived parents who are already navigating integration into Finnish society. The organization also highlights concerns about equality, children's rights, and the potential long-term impact on social inclusion.

The government's stated objective is to promote integration, increase participation in early childhood education, and strengthen parents' connection to the labour market through what is known as the "Norwegian model" of home care support.