To get Dad and Partner Pay you need to be caring for a newborn or recently adopted child who was born or entered your care before 1 July 2023. You must also be one of the following:
- child’s biological father
- partner of the birth mother
- adoptive parent of the child
- partner of an adoptive parent
- person caring for a child born of a surrogacy arrangement.
In some circumstances, you may also be eligible if you’re either the:
- partner of the biological father
- partner of a new carer where care arrangements have changed, other than a foster care or permanent care arrangement.
You also need to meet all of the following:
- an income test
- a work test
- residence rules
- not work during your Dad and Partner Pay period, except for allowable reasons
- not take paid leave during your Dad and Partner Pay period
- care for the child on each day of your Dad and Partner Pay period.
If you have a newborn, you must have registered or applied to register their birth. You do this with your state or territory birth registry.
In cases of a stillbirth or infant death, you may be able to get one or both of these payments:
- Dad and Partner Pay
- Stillborn Baby Payment.
Not eligible
You can’t get Dad and Partner Pay for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2023. You also can’t get Dad and Partner Pay if you’re the birth mother of the child. Instead, you may be able to get either: