on this page
You can still meet the work test if you’re the birth mother and you either:
- had a medical condition that got worse because of your pregnancy
- developed an illness or complication with your pregnancy.
You’ll need to give us proof from both your doctor and your employer about your situation.
Proof from your doctor
You need to give us proof from your doctor or the hospital confirming all of the following about your illness or complication:
- what it was
- the date it started
- that it prevented or reduced your ability to work
- that it’s directly related to your pregnancy.
For example, you may need to prove that your pregnancy was the reason a pre-existing condition got worse.
Proof from your employer
You’ll also need to give us proof from your employer. This needs to include both:
- the date you stopped working
- that you would’ve kept working during the work test period if you didn’t experience the illness or complication.
Proof if you’re self-employed
If you’re self-employed, you need to prove your ability to work was reduced during the work test period. This may include any of the following:
- existing and new contracts
- self-declaration of self-employment status and the intention for the business to continue
- a letter or declaration from your accountant confirming the past and expected future of the business
- notifications of change to business activity
- employment of a staff member to perform your usual work activities.
How to give us proof for an exception
When you claim Parental Leave Pay, you’ll be asked to give us any supporting evidence needed to prove your circumstances. The documents you need to give us depend on what you tell us when you claim.
Find out more about how to claim Parental Leave Pay.