Newborn Upfront Payment, Newborn Supplement and other family payments
Not eligible for Parental Leave Pay? Families on Family Tax Benefit Part A can get a lump sum and 13 weeks of extra payments instead.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
The Newborn Upfront Payment is a tax-free lump sum of $708 per child, and the Newborn Supplement adds up to $2,125.76 over 13 weeks for a first child ($709.80 for later children), as of October 2026. You must be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A and not receive Parental Leave Pay for the same child.
The two newborn payments
| Payment | Amount as of October 2026 | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn Upfront Payment | $708 per child, as a lump sum | Not taxable |
| Newborn Supplement, first child | Up to $2,125.76 in total, over 13 weeks | Not taxable |
| Newborn Supplement, later children | Up to $709.80 in total, over 13 weeks | Not taxable |
Amounts published by Services Australia on its page updated 1 July 2026.
The Newborn Supplement depends on your family income and how many children you have. If you are eligible for the Family Tax Benefit Part A base rate or more, you get the maximum; below that, a reduced rate. Payments stop if you stop being eligible during the 13 weeks. They are paid according to your Family Tax Benefit Part A payment choice.
Who can get them
You may be eligible if you have a baby, adopt a child, or a child comes into your care (for example through foster care), and:
- you are eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A;
- you are not getting Parental Leave Pay for the same child (and neither is your partner);
- your partner has not already received these payments for the child.
Twins, triplets and more may also qualify. Approved care organisations cannot claim.
Newborn payments or Parental Leave Pay?
For most working parents, Parental Leave Pay is the larger amount: up to 130 days at $200.94 a day before tax for a family with a child born from 1 July 2026. The newborn payments are mainly for families who do not meet the Parental Leave Pay work test or income test. If you received the newborn payments and later find you are eligible for Parental Leave Pay, you can still claim it (up to 52 weeks after the birth) but must repay the newborn payments.
See Parental Leave Pay 2026 and who qualifies.
How to claim
Claim Family Tax Benefit for your child through your Centrelink online account in myGov. Services Australia then checks your eligibility for the newborn payments. You can enrol your baby in Medicare in the same claim with the Newborn Child Declaration (see Medicare for your baby).
Other payments for families
Family Tax Benefit. A two-part payment towards the cost of raising children. You need a dependent child, care of at least 35% of the time, and to meet an income test and residence rules. Foster parents, guardians, adoptive parents, same-sex couples, single parents and step parents can be eligible.
Parenting Payment. The main income support payment for a young child's main carer: for a child under 14 if you are single, or under 6 if partnered. Income and assets tests apply; only one parent can claim, and not before the birth.
Child Care Subsidy. Paid directly to an approved child care service to reduce your fees, for a child aged 13 or younger not in secondary school. You must be responsible for the fees and meet residence and immunisation requirements. Recognised activities include paid work, training, volunteering, looking for work, and paid or unpaid leave.
No jab, no pay. Children who are not up to date with routine National Immunisation Program vaccines lose access to the full Family Tax Benefit Part A and child care fee assistance, unless they have an approved exemption or are on an approved catch-up schedule.
After a stillbirth. Families can choose between Parental Leave Pay and the Stillborn Baby Payment, which is not taxable and has no work test. Services Australia has a page to help you decide. Support lines are listed on our Australia guide.
For help: Centrelink families line 136 150, multilingual line 131 202.
Questions parents ask
Can I get the Newborn Upfront Payment and Parental Leave Pay?
Not for the same child. If you or your partner get Parental Leave Pay for the child, you are not eligible. If you later switch to Parental Leave Pay, you repay the newborn payments.
How do I claim the Newborn Upfront Payment?
You do not claim it separately. When you claim Family Tax Benefit for your child, Services Australia checks whether you are eligible for the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement.
Is the Newborn Upfront Payment taxable?
No. Services Australia states that neither the Newborn Upfront Payment nor the Newborn Supplement is taxable.
What is no jab, no pay?
If a child is not up to date with routine vaccines on the National Immunisation Program, the family cannot get the full Family Tax Benefit Part A or child care fee assistance, unless an exemption or approved catch-up schedule applies.
Sources
- Services Australia — Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — How much Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement you can get checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Family Tax Benefit checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Child Care Subsidy checked October 13, 2026
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Payments for families checked October 13, 2026
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Immunisation and vaccinations for your child (no jab, no pay) checked October 13, 2026
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