Australia's Paid Parental Leave scheme provides financial support to eligible parents who take time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. This guide covers Parental Leave Pay (PLP) and Dad and Partner Pay (DaPP) for 2026.
Parental Leave Pay (PLP) — 2026 Rates
Parental Leave Pay is paid at the National Minimum Wage rate:
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | $1,004.70 before tax (National Minimum Wage rate from 1 July 2026) |
| Maximum number of weeks | 26 weeks (130 payable days) |
| Maximum total payment | Approximately $26,122.20 before tax |
| How it's paid | Fortnightly by Centrelink or through your employer |
Dad and Partner Pay (DaPP) — 2026 Rates
Note: Dad and Partner Pay has been merged into the expanded Parental Leave Pay scheme from 1 July 2026. Families can now share the full 26 weeks between parents, with 20 days reserved for the other parent. The table below reflects the former separate scheme for reference:
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | $915.90 |
| Maximum weeks | 2 weeks (10 payable days) |
| Maximum total payment | Approximately $1,831.80 |
Eligibility for Parental Leave Pay
Personal Eligibility
- You are the primary carer of a newborn or adopted child
- You have worked continuously for at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth or adoption
- You must have not worked or used paid leave between the date of birth/adoption and the start of your Parental Leave Pay period
- You meet the work test and income test
- You must be an Australian resident or hold a qualifying visa
Work Test
- You must have worked (or been on paid leave) for at least 330 hours (about 1 day per week) in the 10-month work test period (generally the 13 months before the child's birth or adoption)
- No gaps between consecutive work days of longer than 12 weeks (unless on paid leave, community service leave, or sick leave)
- The 330 hours can be spread across any number of employers
Income Test
- Your individual adjusted taxable income in the financial year before the claim must be $185,000 or less
- This is a hard cut-off — no tapering
- The test applies to your income alone, not your partner's
Eligibility for Dad and Partner Pay
- You are a partner of the primary carer (including same-sex partners)
- You meet the same work test as PLP (330 hours in 10 of 13 months)
- Your income is $185,000 or less in the financial year before the claim
- You can receive DaPP at the same time as the primary carer receives PLP
How to Claim Paid Parental Leave
- Notify your employer at least 10 weeks before the baby's due date (or within 4 weeks after the birth)
- Log into myGov and link Centrelink
- Select "Make a claim" and choose "Paid Parental Leave"
- Provide your employment details, baby's due date or birth date, and estimated weeks of leave
- Complete the online questionnaire about your work history and income
- Upload supporting documents (birth certificate, proof of identity, employer details)
- Submit the claim — ideally no earlier than 3 months before and no later than 4 weeks after the birth
Receiving Payment
You can receive PLP in two ways:
- Through your employer (if they opt in): your employer pays you your normal salary and claims the PLP amount from the Government. You may also receive any employer-funded parental leave you're entitled to.
- Through Centrelink directly: if your employer does not opt in, or if you are self-employed, Centrelink will pay you directly on a fortnightly basis.
Parental Leave Pay and Other Payments
- If you receive PLP, you generally cannot receive FTB Part B at the same time (but FTB Part A continues)
- PLP is taxable — include it in your tax return
- PLP does not affect your Paid Annual Leave or Sick Leave entitlements — those are separate
- You may be eligible for the Newborn Supplement (FTB Part A) in addition to PLP
Returning to Work
- Your PLP stops if you return to work before the 26-week period ends
- You can return for keeping in touch (KIT) days — up to 10 days of work without losing your PLP
- You must notify Centrelink when you return to work
2026 Changes — Merged Scheme
From 1 July 2026, the separate PLP and DaPP payments have been merged into a single, more flexible Paid Parental Leave scheme. For children born or adopted on or after 1 July 2026, eligible families can access up to 130 days (26 weeks) of Parental Leave Pay, and 20 of those days are reserved for the other parent. This means:
- Both parents can receive payment at the same time, including overlapping days
- More flexible sharing arrangements
- Dads and partners get more access to paid leave
This guide is updated for 2026. Check Services Australia website for latest rates.
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Action Plan: Claiming PPL for a 2026 Baby
- Notify your employer at least 10 weeks before your baby's due date so they can prepare for your leave.
- Claim through myGov once your baby is born or adopted — claims can be lodged from 3 months before the due date.
- Meet the work test: at least 330 hours (about one day a week) worked in the 10 of the 13 months before the birth, with no gap over 12 weeks.
- Check the income test: your adjusted taxable income in the year before the claim must be $185,000 or less.
- Decide how to split the 26 weeks — with 20 days reserved for the other parent, families can overlap leave or stretch it into flexible blocks before the child's second birthday.