Self-employed parents

You may still meet the work test for Parental Leave Pay if you’re self-employed.

You can include your hours of work, if you’re undertaking the work for financial reward or gain. This includes businesses that don’t currently run at a profit.

This includes all of the following:

  • providing goods and services for hire or reward
  • carrying on a business, including as a partnership or enterprise
  • working for a trust operating as a business.

If you get Parental Leave Pay and you’re self-employed we’ll make the payments to you.

Page last updated: 6 August 2025.
QC 64487