Australia's Paid Parental Leave scheme pays Parental Leave Pay to eligible parents caring for a newborn or recently adopted child. As of October 2026, families get up to 130 days (26 weeks) for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, paid at $200.94 a day before tax, or $1,004.70 per 5 day week. If you have a partner, 20 of those days are reserved for them.
The scheme has grown each year since 2024, so the child's date of birth or adoption decides how many days your family gets. It's based on the national minimum wage, it's taxable, and for children born from 1 July 2025 the ATO now pays super on it too. Everything here comes from Services Australia's Parental Leave Pay pages.
How many days your family can get
| Child born or adopted from | Family gets up to | Reserved for partner | Days you can take at the same time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | 110 days (22 weeks) | 10 days | 10 |
| 1 July 2025 | 120 days (24 weeks) | 15 days | 20 |
| 1 July 2026 | 130 days (26 weeks) | 20 days | 20 |
A single parent gets all the days, and can choose to share them. If you lodged a pre-birth claim before 1 July 2026 and the baby arrived on or after that date, Services Australia adds the extra 10 days automatically once it has proof of birth. You don't need a new claim.
The rate of Parental Leave Pay
| Financial year you take the days in | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | $189.62 a day or $948.10 per 5 day week |
| 2026-27 | $200.94 a day or $1,004.70 per 5 day week |
The rate usually changes on 1 July, and you're paid the rate for the financial year each day falls in, not the year your child was born. Days taken either side of 1 July can be paid at two different rates. Twins or triplets don't multiply it: Parental Leave Pay is paid for one child.
Superannuation on Parental Leave Pay
For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a Paid Parental Leave Superannuation Contribution, based on the superannuation guarantee rate. It's calculated and paid into your fund automatically after the financial year ends, with no separate claim.
Who can get it
- You're caring for the child and you make a claim.
- You're the birth mother, the biological father, an adoptive parent, a gaining parent in a surrogacy arrangement, or the partner of any of them, or caring for a child in exceptional circumstances.
- You meet the income test, the work test and the residence rules.
- For a newborn, you've registered or applied to register the birth.
- You don't work on the days you're paid, except for allowable reasons.
Self-employed people and sole traders can claim too, as long as they meet the work test and the other rules. Foster carers can't, unless the child was placed for adoption by an authorised party.
The income test
| Test | 2025-26 financial year | 2024-25 financial year |
|---|---|---|
| Individual adjusted taxable income | $186,487 or less | $180,007 or less |
| Family (you and your partner) adjusted taxable income | $386,525 or less | $373,094 or less |
Services Australia uses your income from the financial year before the birth or adoption, or before you claim, whichever date is earlier. Fail the individual test and you can still pass on family income. Its example: Reema earned $215,000, over the individual limit, but with her partner's $90,000 the family total of $305,000 is under the family limit, so she qualifies.
The example most families miss is Dom and Ashley: Dom passes the income test, Ashley doesn't, and their combined income is over the family limit. Only Dom can claim, and because he has a partner, the reserved days still apply, so the family's maximum is 110 days, not 130.
Sharing days between parents
Each parent makes a separate claim, and the birth mother (or first adoptive or gaining parent) approves how many days are shared. There's a catch for partners: if the birth mother isn't eligible, her partner or the biological father can still claim, but both of them must meet the work test. If she doesn't meet it and the partner does, neither is eligible, except in exceptional circumstances.
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Adoption, surrogacy and stillbirth
An adopted child must be placed in your care by an authorised party before their 16th birthday. Gaining parents in a surrogacy arrangement must claim within 52 weeks of the child coming into their care and provide proof of the arrangement. A birth mother who gives up care of the child through surrogacy or adoption may get Parental Leave Pay to recover from the birth, but can't share any days. If a baby is stillborn, parents may be able to choose between Parental Leave Pay and the Stillborn Baby Payment, and Services Australia has guidance on deciding.
How to claim, step by step
- Check the income test using the right financial year.
- Check you've done enough work before the birth or adoption to meet the work test.
- Agree with your partner how you'll use the days that aren't reserved.
- Each of you lodges your own claim within the claiming timeframes, and registers the birth.
- If you're an employee, tell your employer: Services Australia has a Paid Parental Leave scheme guide for employers.
Job-protected unpaid parental leave is a separate entitlement under the National Employment Standards; Parental Leave Pay is the government payment that can run alongside it.
The verdict
For a baby born from 1 July 2026, plan around 26 weeks and $200.94 a day, with 20 days kept for the partner. Check both incomes before assuming you get the full amount, because a partner who fails the tests can shrink the family total to 110 days.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of paid parental leave do you get in Australia?
Up to 26 weeks (130 days) for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, as of October 2026.
How much is Parental Leave Pay in 2026-27?
$200.94 a day before tax, or $1,004.70 per 5 day week, based on the national minimum wage.
Is super paid on Parental Leave Pay?
Yes, for children born or adopted from 1 July 2025. The ATO pays it into your fund after the financial year ends.
What is the income limit for paid parental leave?
Individual adjusted taxable income of $186,487 or less in 2025-26, or family income of $386,525 or less.
