Parental Leave Pay is $200.94 a day before tax in 2026-27, or $1,004.70 for a 5-day week, based on the national minimum wage. Families with a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026 can get up to 130 days.
Key facts
- Rate for days taken in 2026-27: $200.94 a day, or $1,004.70 for a 5-day week, before tax.
- Child born or adopted from 1 July 2026: up to 130 days (26 weeks) for the family, 20 of them reserved for the partner.
- Individual income test: adjusted taxable income of $186,487 or less in 2025-26, or a family income of $386,525 or less.
- Work test: worked 10 of the 13 months before the birth or adoption, and at least 330 hours in those 10 months.
- Parental Leave Pay is taxable, and for children born from 1 July 2025 the ATO pays a super contribution on it.
Parental Leave Pay rate
Rate by the financial year the days are taken in
| Financial year | 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 depends on when you take the days, not when the child was born. It usually changes on 1 July.
How many days
Days for the family and days reserved for the partner
| Child born or adopted from | Family can get up to | Reserved for the partner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | 110 days (22 weeks) | 10 days |
| 1 July 2025 | 120 days (24 weeks) | 15 days |
| 1 July 2026 | 130 days (26 weeks) | 20 days |
Single parents get all the days. For a child born or adopted from 1 July 2025, parents can take up to 20 days at the same time.
Income test
Income is your adjusted taxable income for the financial year before the birth or adoption, or before you claim if that's earlier.
Income limits
| Test | 2025-26 income | 2024-25 income |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $186,487 or less | $180,007 or less |
| Family (you and your partner) | $386,525 or less | $373,094 or less |
If you don't meet the individual test you can qualify under the family test. A single parent's own income is used for the family test.
Work test
You need to have worked 10 of the 13 months before the birth or adoption (295 of 392 days) and at least 330 hours in those 10 months, about one day a week, with no gap of more than 12 weeks between work days. Paid leave counts, and there are exceptions such as for premature birth.
Common questions
How much is Parental Leave Pay?
For days taken in 2026-27, $200.94 a day before tax, or $1,004.70 for a 5-day week. For days in 2025-26 it was $189.62 a day.
How many weeks of Parental Leave Pay do you get?
Up to 130 days (26 weeks) for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, 120 days from 1 July 2025 and 110 days from 1 July 2024.
What is the income limit for Parental Leave Pay?
Individual adjusted taxable income of $186,487 or less in 2025-26, or family income of $386,525 or less if you don't meet the individual test.
Is Parental Leave Pay taxed?
Yes, it's taxable. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO also pays a super contribution on it after the financial year ends.
Other payments: JobSeeker · Youth Allowance & Austudy · Parenting Payment · DSP · Carer Payment · Family Tax Benefit · Concession cards · Age Pension · Rent Assistance. Back to all Centrelink payment rates.
Source: Services Australia, How much Parental Leave Pay you can get, Meeting the income test for Parental Leave Pay, Work requirements for Parental Leave Pay (pages last updated 1 July 2026). Checked 21 October 2026. General information only; Services Australia works out your actual payment.