FINALLY. Did you know that the Paid Parental Leave scheme came into effect from the 1st January? More importantly if it affects you, do you know how to apply for the scheme and how you receive the benefit? I sat down with an ebuliant Jenny Macklin, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs who has made campaigning for an Australian maternity leave scheme one of her major focuses for over 10 years.
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The Paid Parental Leave scheme:
- is government funded
- is for eligible working parents
- can be transferred to the other parent
- is paid at the National Minimum Wage – currently $570 a week before tax*
- is for up to 18 weeks, and
- can be taken any time within the first year after birth or adoption.
It is important to organise your leave from work. You should try to do this at least 10 weeks before you intend to take leave from work.
If you have worked for 12 months or more for the same employer you are entitled to up to 12 months unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards.
Does the Paid Parental Leave scheme give me an entitlement to leave?
The Paid Parental Leave scheme provides you with Parental Leave Pay but does not give you an entitlement to leave.
If eligible, you will receive up to 18 weeks of Parental Leave Pay at the National Minimum Wage. This will complement parents’ existing entitlements to leave, such as unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act 2009. For more information about your workplace entitlements and obligations visit Fair Work website or call 13 1394.
What if I decide to resign?
If you decide to resign before or during your Paid Parental Leave period you can still be eligible for Parental Leave Pay. You will receive your Parental Leave Pay from the Family Assistance Office. You will need to notify us of your decision to resign if you are receiving Parental Leave Pay from your employer. We will then provide your Parental Leave Pay directly to you.
What if I want to return to work?
If you return to work, your Parental Leave Pay will stop. Under the Paid Parental Leave scheme employees have the option, if you and your employer agree to Keep in Touch with the workplace. This means you can participate in workplace activities for up to 10 days from the birth or adoption of your child until the end of your Paid Parental Leave period. The days you choose to attend work as a Keeping in Touch day cannot be within the first two weeks after the birth or adoption of your child. The days do not need to be used all at once and you must be paid your usual wages or salary in addition to your Parental Leave Pay for the time you attend work. Keeping in Touch days do not extend your Paid Parental Leave period. Keeping in Touch must be a voluntary decision between you and your employer, your employer cannot make this compulsory.
You can apply for your PPL through the Family Assistance website www.familyassist.gov.au
More questions? The Mamamia Paid Parental Leave cheat sheet might provide you with further answers. Also, Australian Government PPL specialists will be answering any questions you leave in comments below. So ask away.
How is the Paid Parental scheme going to change your plans? Does your employer also have a maternity leave scheme in place? If you already have children, would the scheme have helped you?
Comments
129 Comments so far
Hi, I have worked 285 days of the 10 month period… so I am short of 10 days. Will this render me uneligable for ppl?TThanks
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Hi, I am under a lot of stress at work and want to resign before my original finishing date. As of 30th march I will have worked 10 months but if I finish then there will be more than 8 weeks between me stopping work and giving birth. Can I do both? Or not possible.. Thank you
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Hi there
I was wondering if New Zealanders would still be entitled to the PPL if they have been working in Australia for 10 of the 13 months prior to giving birth are able to go back and have their babies in New Zealand and then return to their job back in Australia?
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Will i be entitled to the ppl if i have worked 700 hours from april to oct 2013? I previously had a job for 3 years but left in jan 2012 due to insufficient hours. I then studied in a different field full time for 2 months before i was offered a job in that field of work a couple of weeks after i completed my qualification. Im 32weeks and resigned 2 weeks ago due to pregnancy complications. Am not sure how this ppl works? Will be dissapointed if i have missed out due to a couple of months break due to changing jobs/careers. Any advice would be helpful?
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Just wondering if i’m entitled to the ppl if i have worked over 660 hours from the months april to oct 2012. I previously had a job for 3 years but resigned at in jan 2012, due to insufficient hours. I wanted and needed a secure full time job so i was required to study full time for 2 months in a different field to receive a qualification to enable me to be offered full time. I’m currently 32 weeks and left work 2 weeks ago due to some complications with pregnancy. Just not sure how this ppl scheme is assessed? Just need to know if i can receive this or do i have to apply for the baby bonus?
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Why does the Fairwork Act 2009 & my employer say I can’t start my 12 months of maternity leave prior to 6 weeks before my due date? If Centrelink says I can stop 3 months before my due date, why does Fairwork Act say I can’t stop prior to 6 weeks til due date unless I have a ‘pregnancy related medical condition’? Why is it that every Doctor & midwife I speak to has never heard of this? This is very frustrating for me, as a mother to be, isn’t it my perogative and my right to work up until when it’s comfortable for me…?
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Hi, I have a hair salon I have been running for the past 3years, I’m wondering, do I still get ppl if I employ someone whilst I stay home with my baby?
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My employer has indicated that I must return to my FULL-TIME position and can’t facilitate part-time. Am I legally allowed to work for another company part-time until I’m ready to go back to full time work with my current employer? (obviously within the 12 month period)
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Hi,
I’m hoping to start maternity leave on the 30th of November (28 weeks pregnant)
The website for ppl states you have to have worked 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth. If I finish up at the end of November would the 3 months be counted as Dec, Jan, Feb or will they count 12 weeks? Is there a little bit of give incase you go over your due date?
Thank you
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Hi, I just want to no if I still get ppl if I plan to resign from my job instead of taking maternity leave because I’m moving interstate. I still would have worked 11 out of 13 months full time
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Hi Ella,
I resigned from my job (actually I was self-employed and closed my company at the same time, but that’s irrelevant) and I was paid the full 18 weeks by family assistance office. While I’m not an authority on it, the answer it appears is yes, you will get paid, but you’ll need to talk to the family assistance office to let them know they will be paying you. I gave them 6 weeks notice, but I still had to wait 6 weeks after the birth til I got paid. Bear that time gap in mind as 12 weeks without money is a long time.
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Hi,
I am confused about the elegibility criteria in regard to the start of the leave before the birth of my baby.
I have read that I need to work for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth of my child, which mean that I could start my leave three months before my due date (assuming I have worked during the other 10 months), but I have also read some places that state that I need to start my leave within the last 6 weeks of my due date (from 34 weeks).
Is that true?
I would like to start my leave around week 30 but I don’t want to jeopardise my elegibility to the schema.
Thanks.
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I am a relief school teacher and was wondering how I go about the 8 week gap between 2 consecutive days as over the Christmas break I obviously can’t work. However if I started work the beginning of feb and then took maternity leave through my employer in November, could this be counted in my 10 months of work?
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I have recently returned to work from paid parental leave and it was great. I am pregnant again and will have only been at work for 7 months since my last leave. Does the paid parental leave count in the work test? I’m guessing I won’t be entitled this time
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Hi I’m in the same boat trying to find info!! Will have done enough hrs but only 8 months!! Did u get any luck? Would love to hear from you!! My email is e_tobin66@hotmail.com
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Does this scheme mean you can’t leave full-time work before the 6 month pregnancy mark? Seems kind of unfair. Someone who works full time (38hrs a week) but chooses to leave work at 5 or 6 months pregnant won’t qualify yet someone who works 1 day a week (8hrs) for 10 months prior does? That person who works full-time for the 5 or 6 months still works far more hours than the latter.
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Is the $570 per week for 18 weeks income tested? Is this amount available to all working mothers, or does this depend what the household income is? If so what is the threshholds?
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important publish, Although I wasn’t absolutely concede on some factors initially, meeting rendering till finish, factual seems nice.
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Can you tell me if there is a law covering return from maternity leave for remote work. I was working remote, and intended to go back to a temporary position in the office but my company wants to return me to FIFO when I have a 6 months old, when they had promised that the temporary position would be available when if I was interested to get back before I went on leave, since the position was advertised before I left as a temporary position. Anyway I want to know if the law covers me if I do not want to work remote or this would be considered a push by my employer to make me resign when I am not able to go work remote?
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I should add that I had my baby in January, in New Zealand.
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Hi,
I am currently living in New Zealand (moved here in November last year), but I work remotely for an Australian company, therefore paying Australian tax and superannuation. I have worked for this company on and off since 2002. Are there any exceptions ot the residency requirements, for cases like mine?
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hi,
I am confused also with paid parental leave. I have worked 3 different jobs in my 13 month period and have met the requirements however, how do i prove this to centerlink? I have done the online claim and it hasn’t asked for any of my employees nor proof ? When do you find out whether you are actually eligible for this does centerlink notify you ?
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Hi there im just a little confused and would love some assistance. My baby is due on 2 July 2011. Does that mean i am looking at my income for finacial year 2011 (2010-2011), as when i use the caculator estimator on the centrelink web page its asking me to put in my income for finacial year 2011-2012 (in which i will be taking a year unpaid maternity leave). This makes a huge difference as to how much im getting with the paid parental leave, As i am trying to determain if im better off going with PPL or baby bonus. Please help!!!!!
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Hello,
I am having twins! Am i entitled to double the paid parental leave? And is it possible to take it one after the other? eg for 36 weeks instead of 18weeks? Or do I have to have a payment from baby bonus and one from paid parental?
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Hi there,
You can’t get double ppl unfortunately, however you can have ppl for one child and the baby bonus for the other.
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I was recently told that even though I have been working full-time (35 hour weeks) since late April 2010, I would not qualify for the PPL scheme since I had not been working a full 10 months prior to taking maternity leave early this month. Is this 10 months calculated according to option 1 or 2? Option 1: Have worked 10 months (ie: 27 Apr 2010-27 Feb 2011) or Option 2: Been working in the last 10 months (ie: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec 2010 and Jan 2011)?
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Thank you for your question, Veronica.
The 10 month period in the Paid Parental Leave work test is equal to 295 days. The 295 day period can be made up of work and paid leave. The work does not all have to be with the same employer.
Unpaid leave does not count towards the work test.
To meet the Paid Parental Leave work test you must also have completed at least 330 hours in the 295 day period, and not have had more than an eight week break between two consecutive working days.
If you commenced working on 27 April 2010, the 295 day period would end on 12 February 2011.
You can find more information about the Paid Parental Leave work test and other eligibility criteria on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
To test your eligibility for Parental Leave Pay and other family assistance, you can claim up to three months before the expected date of birth of your baby. You can lodge a claim by:
• using Online Services at http://www.familyassist.gov.au
• calling 13 61 50 to request a claim form, or
• visiting the Family Assistance Office, located in Medicare offices and Centrelink Customer Service Centres.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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This isn’t really a question but thank you so much for that. How refreshing to see a politician come across in such a real, human way!
As Tony Jones would say: “I’ll take that as a comment”
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People who’s employers already offer schemes will get the PPL as well! A little unfair, in particular when it comes to our Public Servants……For eg. State Govt employees in my state already receive full pay for 6 months or half pay for 12 months when they have a baby. THis means that a public servant can make more money on the first 4 months maternity leave than when they are at work – AND – my tax dollars are paying for it!!!!! What a JOKE!!! Ridiculous!!
To the girlfriend I know who is in this lucky predicament, stop complaining to me about how hard it will be when you have a baby and need to cope financially – you are on a winner and very ungrateful!!!! I’ll be paying for it in my tax dollar when I go back to work after 4 months and leave my tiny baby in child care because I can’t afford to stay home. Stop your whining.
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Stop your whining Claire! Perhaps you should have gotten a job in the public service if you think the conditions of employment are so great! You don’t get to pick and choose where your tax dollars go. Wouldn’t you prefer that your tax dollars are spent on highly skilled, hard working staff? If the conditions of employment in the PS were not so attractive those people would look elsewhere and take their skills with them.
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does the 12 months of working for your employer to be eligible include 9 months gestation!? so therefore 3 months with your employer before you fall pregnant?
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Thank you for your question Jules.
To be eligible for the Paid Parental Leave scheme, a parent must meet a work test which requires that the parent:
· worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth or adoption of their child, and
· worked for at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (just over one day a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days.
The work that you do in 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth, including while you are pregnant, can count towards the Paid Parental Leave work test.
A parent can be eligible even if they work part-time or as a casual, have multiple employers, have recently changed jobs or are between jobs or on unpaid leave for no more than 8 weeks at a time in the relevant 10 month period.
More information about the scheme can be found on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or you can contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Due to the heavy duties involved in my job and a health condition I will be commencing my paid maternity leave at 27-28 weeks pregnant. So I’m right on the borderline of working 10 of the 13 months prior to my pregnancy. Am I still eligible? And does paid maternity leave count as paid work?
Thank you
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Thanks for your question Anon.
You will meet the Paid Parental Leave work test if you have:
• worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth of your child, and
• worked at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (just over one day a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days.
Periods of paid leave taken before the birth or adoption of the child, such as your employer-provided paid maternity leave or recreation leave, can also be included as work. Periods of unpaid leave cannot be included as work.
There are some exceptions to the work test if a birth mother is unable to meet it due to premature birth or pregnancy complications. The exceptions apply if the Family Assistance Office is satisfied that the mother would have met the work test but for the premature birth or pregnancy-related complications or illness which prevented her from working.
You can find more information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I work 2 days in the week. Would I still be entitled to PPL?
Thanks so much for answering all these questions. This is soooo much easier than trying to call Centrelink or looking up the information on a government web page.
Thanks Mia
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Thank you for your question Aggie.
You will meet the Paid Parental Leave work test if you have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth of your child; and worked for at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (an average of 7.6 hours a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days. If your two days of work is for 7.6 hours a week or more on average, you should be able to meet this part of the work test.
You can find out more about the scheme by visiting the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au or by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I am confused about Keeping in Touch days. If I take some KIT days and my employer has to pay me the full amount during those days, what happens to the PPL payment. Is is deducted and can I make up the days on the other side of it?
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Thanks for your enquiry Lorraine.
Parental Leave Pay must be taken in one continuous 18 week period. The payment can start from the date of birth or adoption, or a later date. The primary carer of the child must be on leave and not working from the time they become the child’s primary carer until the end of their Paid Parental Leave period. However, during that time they can Keep in Touch with their workplace by participating in activities for up to 10 days and not lose entitlement to Parental Leave Pay.
Keeping in touch activities could include, but not be limited to, training days, planning days and conferences. If a person participates in a Keeping in Touch activity for one hour or more on a day, that will count as one KIT day.
A birth mother cannot participate in a Keeping in Touch day within two weeks of the birth of the child.
Taking a Keeping in Touch day will not extend the Paid Parental Leave period, or affect the payment for Parental Leave Pay for the day.
An employee who participates in a Keeping in Touch day will receive their usual pay for the time they participate.
A self-employed person can oversee their business and perform the occasional administrative task, without losing their entitlement to Parental Leave Pay.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Can my husband and I do half each – ie 9 weeks each?
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Thanks for your question Mandy.
Parental Leave Pay must be taken in one continuous 18 week period. You can nominate the date you would like your Parental Leave Pay to start when you lodge your claim. Parental Leave Pay can start from the date of birth or a later date, and must all be used within 52 weeks of the birth. If you decide to return to work before the end of your 18 week Paid Parental Leave period, you can transfer the unused part of your Parental Leave Pay to your husband if he meets the eligibility criteria and claims the unused Parental Leave Pay.
Both you and your husband will need to lodge claims for the scheme. Claims can be lodged up to three months before the birth. Your husband can lodge his claim at the same time as or after you lodge your claim, but not before.
More information about the scheme can be found on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or you can contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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What happens if your place of work won’t allow paid paternity leave – are they legally bound?
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Thanks for your question Sue.
The Australian Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme is designed to complement existing workplace entitlements.
Under the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act 2009, if you have been employed by your employer for 12 months or more prior to the birth or adoption, you may be entitled to access up to 12 months unpaid parental leave associated with the birth or adoption of your child. You can also request an additional 12 months unpaid leave on top of this.
Most employees who are eligible for Parental Leave Pay will also be eligible for unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards. Parents who are ineligible for this type of leave, may be able to negotiate unpaid leave with their employer.
More information about workplace entitlements is available on the Fair Work Ombudsman website at http://www.fairwork.gov.au or by calling 13 13 94.
Megan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Great column. BH I’m expecting twins in July. We don’t qualify for the Baby Bonus given our incomes. Surely we should be entitled to a longer period of paid parental leave given that we will need to care for two babies and establish appropriate bonds. I have to start maternity leave considerably earlier given potential complications for a twin pregnancy. If I was having 2 singletons I would be entitled to two lots of paid parental leave. It seems to be harsh that parents of twins aren’t helped out accordingly given the double work load and additional costs. I don’t accept that just because we earn a higher income we are not entitled to an equal share of the assistance – surely this policy is not about encouraging only lower income people to bond with their children during the early weeks.
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not at all, its trying to enable lower income people to bond with their children when they normally couldn’t afford to stay at home without a wage. Setting an income barrier is trying to balance the system, not favour the low income.
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My understanding is that an income barrier has been set for the Baby Bonus – which is means tested – rather than Paid Parental Leave. I don’t have a problem with this and accept that I am not entitled to the Baby Bonus.
However given Paid Parental Leave is not means tested, my understanding of Jenny Macklin’s comments in her interview with Mia, was that the purpose is to encourage early bonding between mothers and babies regardless of their income. The fact that Paid Parental Leave is not means tested and allows you to still receive paid maternity leave from your employer, suggests to me that the government does not intend to distinguish between lower income and higher income people in terms of this policy (For the record, I work for a small business that are unable to offer paid maternity leave).
My point is that given that I would be entitled to 18 weeks parental leave for each baby if I had two babies in sucession, I dont understand why I am not entitled to a longer period of Paid Parental Leave given I am having twins. I imagine it will take me longer to get into the swing of things, work out tandem feeding and establish some kind of new normality, than it would if I was having a singleton (I have a two year old, so I have some idea of how long it took to negotiate that).
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Thanks for your comments Concerned Mother.
The Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme is closely based on the scheme proposed in the Productivity Commission’s Final Inquiry Report Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children. The Commission’s recommendations were the result of a year-long inquiry and wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders.
The Productivity Commission Report recommended that mothers having a multiple birth be entitled to the same period of pay under the scheme as those mothers having a single baby because in either situation the mother would require a similar recovery time. The Paid Parental Leave scheme is designed to provide a reasonable period of time for mothers to recover from childbirth, and to enable parents to stay at home full-time to care for their babies during the vital early months of social, cognitive and physical development.
The Paid Parental Leave scheme has an income test. A primary claimant (usually the mother) may be eligible for Parental Leave Pay if their individual adjusted taxable income does not exceed the income limit of $150,000 in the financial year prior to the date of birth of their child, or the date of their claim, whichever is the earlier.
The income test is intended to maintain fairness in the overall support provided to families. The income test recognises that women who are on a high income and are primary carers generally are in a stronger position to obtain paid parental leave and other family-friendly benefits as part of their conditions of employment.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I am in the same position as you. I am expecting twins in April and my husand and I don’t qualify for baby bonus. I think we should be entitled to a longer period of paid parental leave too!
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I’m not even pregnant (yet) and I too think that parents of multiples should get more! I think you would need more time with twins or triplets and once you do go back to work child care will be double (or triple) as much, so it makes sense for you to get more time with your little ones. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem that the government agrees.
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I am so excited about this new scheme! I have a question I need answered if the specialists are still reading. I am at risk of having similar complications to my first pregnancy again, however these may not happen and could arise pretty much anytime between when I finish work and the birth (impossible to predict). I am having about 6 weeks of unpaid leave and finishing just over 2.5 months before the birth, after the unpaid leave hopefully my work maternity leave pay will begin. I am just checking I understand properly, because I will be over the 8 week gap between working days. The fact that I am receiving paid maternity leave from my employer counts as time worked, is that right? Thankyou!
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Thanks for your question Rosie.
A parent will meet the Paid Parental Leave work test if they have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth of their child, and worked at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (just over one day a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days.
The 10 month period that a person uses to meet the work test could for example, be the 10 months immediately before the birth, or it could be from 2.5 months to 12.5 months before the birth.
Periods of paid leave taken before the birth, such as employer provided paid maternity leave, can count towards the work test. Periods of unpaid leave cannot be included as work.
There are some exceptions to the work test if a birth mother is unable to meet it due to premature birth or pregnancy complications. The exceptions apply if the Family Assistance Office is satisfied that the mother would have met the work test but for the premature birth or pregnancy-related complications or illness which prevented her from working.
You can find more information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Yay! Great interview Mia. So easy to forget politicians are passionate lobbyists for their causes and have devoted their working lives to issues that believe in. You just think these thinks fall form the sky, great to hear from one of the women behind it!
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I’m pregnant atm and I am self emplyed. How do I prove that I’ve worked the required number hours?
Thanks
Josie
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Thanks for your question Josie.
When you lodge a claim for the scheme you will be asked questions about the length of time you have been working, the number of hours you have worked and whether you have had more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days. You will also be asked to declare that the information you have provided in your claim is accurate.
If your responses in the claim form indicate that you may not meet the work test or that you may be close to not meeting the work test, you will be asked to provide proof of your work history. The form of proof you can provide will depend on your individual circumstances. You may have a record of your work hours, or a letter from your accountant, for example. If you have no documented proof of your work history, or if the Family Assistance Office is unable to make a decision based on the information you provide, you may be asked to complete a statutory declaration.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I’ve been waiting to get pregnant until I had accumulated my employment with my new workplace and for this scheme to come in.
Right! Contraception in the bin!
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Hi Hooray Holly,
I think you still need to be at your workplace for 12 months in order to qualify for maternity leave (whether unpaid or paid). So, if you go on mat before 12 months, I dont think your employer is required to hold your job open for you, but maybe someone else can clarify?
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Babies take 40 weeks to ‘cook’ so unless she has been with her current employer less than 3 months the 3 + 9 = 12. Or do you have to have 12 months + 9 ? Anyone can clarify?
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Devrocks is correct – PPL doesn’t provide you with any ‘leave’ at all. It’s a bit of a misnomer. The Fair Work Act provides you with 12 months of unpaid leave which you can then complement with the PPL scheme, but you still need to meet the eligibility under the Fair Work Act to be eligible for unpaid leave. Generally this means 12 months of service with your employer, otherwise your employer is under no obligation to hold your position open for you to come back into.
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Thanks for your comment Devrocks.
Under the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act 2009, if a person has been employed by their employer for 12 months or more prior to the birth or adoption, they may be entitled to access up to 12 months unpaid parental leave associated with the birth or adoption of their child. They can also request an additional 12 months unpaid leave on top of this.
For information about workplace entitlements including the right to return to work following unpaid parental leave, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website, http://www.fairwork.gov.au, or call 13 1394.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I’m keen to know about indigenous women. I know a lot of women who have been pressured in the past to give up their baby bonus to their men who use it for grog or stuff for their car.
How can you make sure this doesn’t happen with the PPL?
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Firstly I don’t see what that has to do with specifically indigenous women since we’ve all heard stories of the baby bonus being spent on plasma tellies and the like by new parents regardless of their background… BUT…
Perhaps the fact that PPL is not a lump sum payment but rather a payment paid in accordance with an eligible person’s normal pay cycle through their employer might help to prevent the irresponsible spending of a payment that is intended to allow new parents to spend time with their child.
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Thanks for your question NT.
In 2009 the Government made changes to the way in which Baby Bonus is paid, with payments now made in 13 fortnightly instalments, rather than a lump sum. This change was made to help ensure that the Baby Bonus is used to assist with the extra costs associated with the birth or adoption of a child. Baby Bonus is also 100 per cent income managed if the recipient is subject to income management
In the same way that Baby Bonus is paid in instalments, Parental Leave Pay is payable over the 18 week eligibility period. Payments are made in accordance with the mother’s usual pay cycle if the pay is provided by her employer. If the Family Assistance Office provides the pay, payments are made fortnightly.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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What if I work for myself as a freelance graphic designer? Am i eligible? I’ve only just started freelancing so I don’t have a long work history.
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Thanks for your question Sue-Anne.
You can be self-employed and be eligible for the scheme if you meet the eligibility criteria including the work test. To meet the work test, you must have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to your baby’s birth, and worked for at least 330 hours in that 10 month period (just over one day a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days.
If you worked in a different job within the relevant 10 month period either prior to taking up freelance graphic design or at the same time, this work can also count towards the work test.
A person who is self-employed or works for a family business (such as a farm) can include their hours of work even if the business is not generating any income, providing they are undertaking the work for financial gain or benefit.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I don’t have any questions after watching the video! Thanks for all this great info. Had no idea about most of it and I’m planning on getting preg this year.
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I have a question – what if your workplace also gives you paid leave. I work for a fantastic company which has a policy of 8 weeks paid leave. Does that mean i am entitled to both Goverment paid 18 weeks and company paid 8 weeks leave?
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Depends whether the policy is deemed to be a condition of your employment or not – if it’s in an agreement or contract then yes you may get both. The government scheme is intended not to remove any employer provided or negotiated entitlements.
Otherwise if it’s a discretionary policy then technically your employer *could* rescind the policy and just pay the 18 weeks from the government. I would be lobbying them to keep their policy, or if you’re not successful with that then get them to at least top up the government scheme to your ordinary wage instead.
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Thanks for your question Lisa.
The Paid Parental Leave scheme does not replace any of your exiting leave entitlements. If you are eligible for the Paid Parental Leave scheme, you can receive government-funded Parental Leave Pay before, after or at the same time as any employer-provided paid leave, such as annual leave and employer-provided paid and unpaid parental or maternity leave.
Information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme is available on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or you could contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Is the cheat sheet link working yet?
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Sure is – also here if you are having problems:
http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2010/08/paid-parental-leave.html
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Hi – I have a question regarding the rate at which this parental leave is taxed. I’ve heard that even though the payment is paid at minimum wage, women will be taxed at their usual tax rate. So if a woman is in a mid to high tax threshold she will be taxed much more steeply than a women on a lower income – is that correct?
While I am a firm believer in taxing employees on higher salaries than lower-paid salaries on a much higher rate, isn’t it a bit unfair to hit mothers at different levels for a one-off government payment such as this? If we’re all receiving the same amount, shouldn’t it be a level playing field?
Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions.
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I believe you will be taxed at the marginal tax rate, so it will depend on what other income you have in the financial year.
I am pretty sure there is a calculator online where you can work out whether PPL or baby bonus (which is tax-free) is better for you.
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My understanding is that it is included as taxable income at the end of the financial year, which accounts for different people being taxed at different levels – it depends on what else you have earned throughout the year.
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Thanks for your question Sally.
Parental Leave Pay is a taxable payment and will be treated in the same way as other taxable income. It will count as taxable income for whichever financial year in which you receive it, including where a period of Parental Leave Pay falls across two financial years.
The amount of tax payable on Parental Leave Pay will depend on the timing of the payment, the amount of other taxable income received in the financial year/s in which you receive Parental Leave Pay, and whether you are paid through your employer or the Family Assistance Office.
If you receive Parental Leave Pay from the Family Assistance Office, tax will automatically be withheld at a rate of 15 per cent unless you request that it be withheld at a different rate.
If you receive the government-funded pay from your employer, Parental Leave Pay will be paid in your usual pay cycle and tax will be withheld in the normal way, at the rate specified by the Australian Tax Office. Your payslip will show your Parental Leave Pay and the amount of tax withheld from the gross amount received in the pay period.
More information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme can be found on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au or by calling the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I am going to make myself unpopular here but I am really against this as far as the criteria is concerned. With Family Benefits Part A and B and baby bonus and paid parental leave I feel there are too many gaps in which people earning good incomes can be eligible for handouts. On a personal level when I had my kids 18 years ago we rented (cheaper then) and went without to raise a family. As have many generations of people before me. I think we are too generous with payments now. As someone in a high tax bracket (I am very grateful for the opportunities which have come my way and which I have taken advantage of) I feel like there are too many people hanging off the public purse who could be supporting their own families.
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Anna,
Undeniably the cost of living is much higher now – are you suggesting that because this wonderful scheme that will allow me to spend precious time with my infant without fear of having our house repossessed, struggling to put food on our table was not around when you had children (as it wasn’t when my mother gave birth) we shouldn’t take it?
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I think what she was saying is that there are people who would be getting this payment who don’t actually need it. ie if it wasn’t available they would still afford to have time off, although perhaps with a smaller disposable income.
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I’m saying you make sacrifices when you make a lifestyle choice such as having a baby and no I don’t think you should rely on handouts if you don’t need it. If you do well go ahead. My resentment is towards people who have plenty putting their hands out and receiving benefits which I beleive should be reserved for those who are really in need. And for the record the cost of living was lower 20 years ago but so were wages etc. My husband supported the five of us on $35K a year and our rent was around $170 a week. The kids never went hungry but sometimes we did.
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Cheers, but I don’t particularly want to go hungry and the last experience I have of renting in Australia was when my fiancee and his mates were unceremoniously kicked out of their sharehouse halfway through the lease because the owner wanted to move in.
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No why should you go hungry when I am here to support you?
Cheers,
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If I were to take paid parental leave then you would be supporting me in the same way the taxes I pay support your roads, police, your kids school teachers or uni lecturers etc etc. Unless you do actually plan on writing me a personal cheque each week.
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I would much rather my taxes go to supporting families with parents who contribute to our economy than those who defraud the system. Unfortunately we don’t get to pick and choose where purchases go. Just because you did not have this assistance doesn’t make it a bad thing Anna.
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There are so many countries who have a long period of paid parental leave for their families, as a basic taxpayer right.
I sympathise that it can’t have been easy bringing up children on a single income as my parents and my husband’s parents did. How is it our right to decide who is worthy of a government payment as opposed to the government?
I think it’s a wonderful initiative that allows families of any size, description or most wage brackets to spend time together as a family. That’s what’s important here, not who struggles the most.
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Someone who gets PPL won’t also receive the baby bonus or FTB part A and B so that is a harsh call. I think some of these payments are poorly administered. We don’t receive any of them as our combined incomes are over $130k however if I didn’t work and my husband earnt up to $150k we would receive part A and B. That doesn’t seem right to me at all. We don’t need the payment and get by fine without it so I cannot see how the family earning $150k apparently is in need of it?
It is all well and good to say that you got by without this assistance Anna but the cost of living was a whole lot less 18 years ago. I was fortunate enough to receive paid maternity leave from my employer and was able to soend 12 months home on half pay with my 3rd baby. It was a wonderful year and not having to worry about money meant I was able to stay home and spend that precious time with my baby. I missed that with my first two babies as I had to return to work after 6 and 9 months as we couldn’t afford to get by on one wage.
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I’d like to know if being a full-time PhD student in receipt of an APA scholarship is counted as work under the work test?
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Thanks for your question Jane.
To be eligible for Paid Parental Leave, you must have been in ‘paid work’ before the birth of your child (and meet other eligibility criteria). While the definition of ‘paid work’ is a relatively broad one, it does not include study. As such, receipt of a scholarship by a PhD student would not constitute paid work for the purposes of the Paid Parental Leave scheme.
However, should a full-time PhD student undertake work in addition to their studies, such as tutoring at a university, this work could count towards the Paid Parental Leave work test. A full-time PhD student who is not eligible for the Paid Parental Leave scheme may, if eligible, receive the Baby Bonus.
You can find more information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme, Baby Bonus and other family assistance, on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I don’t really understand why this is not considered work, as PhD students work very hard for little pay just like an apprenticeship in the building or other trade industries. A part-time PhD scholarship is taxed, just like any other pay and loosing this income is just as hard (or harder because it is below minimum wage) than loosing money from other employment.
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I want to split my leave with my husband, with me taking 14 weeks and him taking 4 – we are both eligible. We’ve had conflicting advice from Family Assistance on this, saying I have to only apply for 14 weeks and then he needs to apply separately for 4 weeks, but not until 3 months before he’ll take the leave, and then it may not be granted as a transfer.
Can I apply for all 18 weeks and then transfer 4 weeks to my husband at a later date?
We’re also confused as to how we can claim 14 weeks of pay, but if I designate dates to begin and end my work leave but my baby doesn’t arrive on time will we be disadvantaged (i.e. could only be 10 weeks of PPL instead of 14 if we have to go by dates?). I have a flexible return to work plan with my employers – how will this work?
I’d appreciate your advice. Thank you.
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Thanks for your question Amy.
Your claim for the Paid Parental Leave scheme can be lodged up to three months before the expected date of birth of your baby. Lodging a claim for Parental Leave Pay before your child is born will help prevent any delays in providing the pay.
If you intend to return to work before the end of your Paid Parental Leave period, you can transfer the unused part of your Parental Leave Pay to your husband if your husband meets the eligibility criteria and claims your unused pay. Both you and your husband will need to lodge a separate claim so that your individual eligibility for the scheme can be decided. Your husband can lodge his claim at the same time, or after you lodge your claim. You must be found to be eligible for the scheme before your husband’s claim can be decided.
When you lodge your claim, you will be asked to nominate the date you would like your Parental Leave Pay to start. This can be the date of birth or a later date. All the Parental Leave Pay must be used within 52 weeks of the birth, so you should nominate a start date that is no later than 34 weeks after your child is born. As Parental Leave Pay is paid in one continuous 18 week period, you will only need to nominate the start date. You can also advise in the claim form the date you will transfer primary care of your child to your husband.
You may not know the date of transfer of care when you lodge your claim. For example, you will not know this date if you lodge a pre-birth claim and would like your Parental Leave Pay to start on your baby’s date of birth. In this case, your husband can delay lodging his claim until after the birth of your baby, and when you are more certain of the date you will return to work.
Further information about the scheme can be found on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or you can contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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i am self-employed, running a small business for the past 12months+. i think that i fit into the criteria to be eligible for paid maternity leave, i work at least 20 hours per week although my income will fluctuate to the nature of having my own business.
what proof do you need to submit to show that you work at least 7.6 hours per week? i have an excel spreadsheet that i document all of my hours worked and what i have done – is this sufficient?
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Good question – my query is much the same except we haven’t turned a profit (yet) with our business so neither my husband or I will actually receive a wage for the work we’ve done…. does my work still count as work?
I have also been recording my hours but I think that the baby bonus / Family Tax benefit may be the better financial option for us anyway.
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Thanks for your question Jenny Louise.
Self-employed parents will be eligible for the scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria including the work and income tests.
If you lodge a claim for the scheme you will be asked questions about the length of time you have been working, if you have had more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days, and how many hours you have worked. You will also be asked to declare that the information you have provided in your claim is accurate.
If your responses in the claim form indicate that you may not meet the work test or that you may be close to not meeting the work test, you will be asked to provide proof of your work history. If you are asked to provide proof, the form this takes will depend on your individual circumstances. It could include a record of your work hours, or a letter from your accountant, for example. If you have no documented proof of your work history, or if the Family Assistance Office is unable to make a decision based on the information you provide, you may be asked to complete a statutory declaration.
You will meet the scheme’s income test if you have an individual income of $150,000 in the financial year prior to the date of birth or date of claim, whichever is the earlier. Most claimants will know what their income was for the previous financial year. If a claimant does not yet have this information, they will be asked to estimate their income for the previous financial year.
You can find more information about the Paid Parental Leave scheme on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Can I clarify one point. If I have my baby in June 2011, does that mean I am looking at my income for FY2010 (July 2009- June 2010)?
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Thanks for the follow-up question Charley.
You are correct. The relevant financial year is the year before the dtae of birth, or date of claim, whichever is the earlier. If your baby is born in June 2011, the relevant financial year for the Paid Parental Leave income test is 2009-10.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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Is it just me or is the link to the Cheat Sheet not working?
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Nope, not just you. Was just about to ask the same question!
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Great interview! Thanks
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I have a question. I am currently a stay at home mum to two kids but am planning on going back to teaching casually one day a week when I stop breastfeeding number two. Because of the nature of my work, there are only forty weeks in a calendar year that the schools are open, and casuals are not needed for all of those weeks. if I’m lucky I might get work in 37 weeks. Added to this, my working day is only 6.5 hours. Despite this being out of my control, does this mean that I will not be able to qualify for the leave? In my particular circumstances what minimums would I need to do to qualify?
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im pretty sure that no matter what your job circumstances are you have to work at least 330hours in the space of 10 consecutive months.
im in a similar position only teaching 1 day a week so i will have to negotiate working the extra time to make up the hours once i get pregnant again (im hoping to do that with relief teaching when someone is sick).
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Thanks for your question Teaching Mummy.
To meet the scheme’s work test, you will need to have worked for at least 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth of your baby, and in that 10 month period, to have worked for at least 330 hours (7.6 hours a week), with no more than an eight week gap between two consecutive working days. A working day is a day you have worked for at least one hour. Paid leave can count towards the work undertaken in the 10 month period, as can work undertaken for different employers.
Families who are not eligible to receive Paid Parental Leave, can receive Baby Bonus if eligible.
You can find more information about the scheme on the Family Assistance Office website at http://www.familyassist.gov.au, or contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL Specialist
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ok thank you. Just one more question. Over Christmas there is a 6 week block when schools are closed and a week on either side of that where casuals aren’t needed. sometimes there’s no work for up to 10 weeks. Is it possible for that to be taken into consideration if all the other requirements are met? i’m sure there are other professions where there is a gap greater than 8 weeks for work availability at some point throughout the year
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Thanks for your follow-up question Teaching Mummy.
The scheme is closely based on that proposed in the Productivity Commission’s Final Inquiry Report Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children. The Commission’s recommendations were the result of a year-long inquiry and wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders.
The Productivity Commission proposed a work test that would ensure the payment assisted parents with an ongoing attachment to the work force, while allowing flexibility so that working parents who are between jobs or who otherwise have some break between working days, can still be eligible. For this reason, the work test does allow a person to have up to 8 weeks break between two consecutive working days. There is no discretion to allow for a longer break.
There is no requirement that work be undertaken with a single employer. If a teacher does not obtain sufficient teaching work to meet the scheme’s work test, other work undertaken by them may also count towards establishing their eligibility. A person can undertake work for remuneration or other financial benefit for one hour on a day, for it to be counted as a working day under the Paid Parental Leave work test.
As mentioned previously, families who are not eligible for the Paid Parental Leave scheme may be eligible to receive Baby Bonus and other family assistance. Family Tax Benefit Part B is not payable during a Paid Parental Leave period, but it is payable to eligible families who receive Baby Bonus.
Meagan
Australian Government PPL specialist
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I think it’s about time! Paid parental leave has been the norm in Sweden for about 40 years now. It is very flexible there, where fathers are also encouraged to take take advantage of it to spend quality time with their child/ren.
I have a friend there who has three children, spaced out about 2 years between them, the youngest one turning three soon, and she only went back to work about a year ago. Admittedly she didn’t get paid the full amount (which is based on your salary before going on leave) during that time, but at least she had the option to stay at home with her children and not be in financial difficulty.
I was absolutely appalled when I arrived in Australia and found out that parental leave was non-existent.
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