Parental Leave Pay

A payment while you care for a newborn or recently adopted child.

Parental Leave Pay will increase to 130 days from 1 July 2026

This change will affect your family if your child is born or adopted from 1 July 2026.

Find out more about the number of days you can get.

To get this payment, all the following apply. You must:

  • be caring for a newborn or recently adopted child
  • have met the income test
  • have met the work test
  • have met the residency rules
  • have registered or applied to register your child’s birth with your state or territory birth registry, if they’re a newborn.

You can’t work on the days you get Parental Leave Pay, except for allowable reasons.

There are additional requirements to get Parental Leave Pay. Read more about who can get it.

You must also claim Parental Leave Pay within the claiming timeframes.

If you’re an employer, read more about the Paid Parental Leave scheme for employers and how to help your employees.

Watch our video about Parental Leave Pay.

Page last updated: 1 April 2026.
QC 64479