Applying for Paid Parental Leave without the headache

Work test, income limits, sharing days with a partner, and timing the claim.

1. 1

   Check the work test

   You generally need to have worked at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth, with no more than a 12-week gap between work days. Self-employed and casual work counts.

2. 2

   Check the income limit

   Services Australia applies individual or family income tests, with limits that change over time. Check which test applies to you and your partner, along with residency rules and any waiting period.

3. 3

   Decide how to split the days

   Paid Parental Leave is now a shared pool of weeks between both parents, with some weeks reserved for each. Talk with your partner and your employers about who takes what and when.

4. 4

   Lodge the claim before the birth

   Claim up to 3 months before your due date through myGov. Tell Centrelink your employer's details — the payment is usually passed to you through your employer's payroll.

5. 5

   Confirm after baby arrives

   Once the birth is registered with Centrelink (via the Newborn Child Declaration), confirm your start date. Keep payslips and Centrelink letters until everything is paid.