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 | $915.90 (based on National Minimum Wage) |
| Maximum number of weeks | 22 weeks (110 payable days) |
| Maximum total payment | Approximately $20,149.80 |
| How it's paid | Fortnightly by Centrelink or through your employer |
Dad and Partner Pay (DaPP) — 2026 Rates
Note: From 1 July 2026, Dad and Partner Pay is being merged into the expanded Parental Leave Pay scheme, with families able to share the full 22 weeks between parents. The information below reflects the current separate scheme:
| 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 22-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 July 2026, the separate PLP and DaPP payments are being merged into a single, more flexible Paid Parental Leave scheme. Families will be able to share the total 22 weeks between both parents. This means:
- Both parents can receive payment at the same time (up to certain limits)
- 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.