Facebook page “PEJA News" published a content on Sunday (May 24), the caption of which reads "Maternity Payments, Kosovo Very Close to Finland!".
The accompanying image of the post claims that in Finland the maternity payment is 560 euros per month (after tax), while in Kosovo it is 500 euros per month (without tax).
The truth?
After fact-checking conducted by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this claim is false.
FACTS
Hibrid.info has researched the official website of the state social security institution in Finland "kela.fi", which explains how payments for parents are calculated in this country. According to published data, the daily payment depends on the person's annual income:
- If your salary income is 20,000 euros per year, the parental allowance is 42,66 euros per working day
- Salary income 30,000 euros per year – 63,99 euros per working day
- Salary income 40,000 euros per year – 85,33 euros per working day
- Salary income 50,000 euros per year – 105,65 euros per working day
While for people with no income or with an annual income below 13,712 euros, the minimum payment is 31,99 euros per working day.
Also, in "kela.fi"The method of taxation of these allowances is also clarified. Daily allowances for parents are usually taxed at the same rate as wages. However, if the wage tax rate is below 25%, then a tax of 25% is applied. Meanwhile, minimum allowances are taxed at 20%.
Based on this data, even in the case where the highest tax of 25% is applied, the mentioned payments do not reach the amount of 560 euros per month, as claimed in the post on the "PEJA News" page.
This claim was published in the context of the announcement by the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, during the Government meeting on May 22, where he announced the increase in maternity benefits.
He stated that from 325.9 euros per month, the allowances will increase to 500 euros per month, equalizing them with the planned minimum wage.
"This year, from July the minimum wage will be 500 euros per month. And just like last year, this May we are increasing the maternity allowance, as we promised, from 325.9 euros per month to 500 euros per month, the same as the minimum wage. In other words, we are not waiting for July, but we are doing it now, from this month.", Kurti said (see here).
Analyze
The website "PEJA News", through a post published on May 24, claimed that maternity pay in Finland is 560 euros per month (after tax), compared to 500 euros in Kosovo (without tax).
After verifying the facts by hibrid.info, based on official data from the state social security institution in Finland "kela.fi", the payment in this country is calculated according to income and taxed differently, therefore in no case is a fixed amount of 560 euros per month, as claimed.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses this claim as "Fake News".
rationale
The “Fake News” rating is given to informational content that is entirely fabricated or that contains factually incorrect claims or information. Content that is rated as fake news can be defined as having been created and distributed with the intent to misinform the public, i.e., to present a claim that is completely false as fact.