Who is Eligible for Paid Parental Leave

Eligibility for Paid Parental Leave (PPL) in Australia is determined by several criteria. To be eligible for PPL, you must meet the following requirements:

You need to be caring for your newborn or adopted child, and be one of the following:

  • the birth mother of the newborn child
  • the partner of the birth mother
  • the child’s biological father
  • the partner of the child’s biological father
  • the child’s adoptive parent
  • the partner of an adoptive parent
  • gaining parents in a surrogacy arrangement
  • a person caring for a child under exceptional circumstances, including caring for a child born of a surrogacy arrangement.

You also need to meet all of the following:

  1. Be caring for a child who is born or adopted from 1 July 2023
  2. Work Test: You must have worked at least 10 of the 13 months preceding the birth or adoption of your child, and at least 330 hours in that 10-month period (around one day a week).
  3. Individual Income Test: Your individual adjusted taxable income must be $150,000 or less in the financial year preceding the birth or adoption of your child.
  4. Not be working on your Parental Leave Pay days, except for allowable reasons
  5. Residency Test: You must be an Australian resident or have a specific visa type, such as a permanent visa or a Special Category Visa (SCV) subclass 444.
  6. Parental Responsibility Test: You must have primary care of the child. This means that you are responsible for the day-to-day care, welfare, and development of the child.
  7. Have registered or applied to register your child’s birth with your state or territory birth registry, if they’re a newborn.

It’s important to note that the eligibility requirements for PPL may change, and there may be additional criteria or exceptions based on individual circumstances.

It is recommended to visit the official Services Australia website (https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/) or contact Centrelink directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information on PPL eligibility. They can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation and assist you with the application process.