Parental Leave Pay 2026: how much you get and how the days work
The figures changed again on 1 July 2026. Here is what a family can get, how the rate is set, and how to plan your days.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
For a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, a family can get up to 130 days of Parental Leave Pay, 26 weeks of weekdays. Days taken in 2026-27 are paid $200.94 a day before tax ($1,004.70 a week), as of October 2026. Twenty days are reserved for a partner, and the ATO adds a superannuation contribution.
The figures as of October 2026
| What | Child born or adopted from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Maximum days for the family | 130 days (26 weeks of weekdays) |
| Days reserved for a partner | 20 days |
| Days both parents can take at the same time | Up to 20 (more with an exemption) |
| Daily rate for days taken in 2026-27 | $200.94 before tax |
| Weekly equivalent | $1,004.70 before tax |
| Superannuation | Paid by the ATO after the financial year |
| Last day to use your days | 2 years after the birth or adoption |
Parental Leave Pay is the Australian Government payment under the Paid Parental Leave scheme. It is separate from your employer's paid leave: you can receive both, and you can take Parental Leave Pay before, during or after employer-funded maternity leave, annual leave or long service leave.
How the days have grown
| Child's date of birth or adoption | Family maximum | Reserved for partner |
|---|---|---|
| From 1 July 2024 | 110 days (22 weeks) | 10 days |
| From 1 July 2025 | 120 days (24 weeks) | 15 days |
| From 1 July 2026 | 130 days (26 weeks) | 20 days |
If you claimed before 1 July 2026 for a baby born on or after that date, your balance first shows 120 days. Services Australia adds the extra 10 days once it receives proof of birth: you do not need to claim again.
The rate follows the day you take
The rate is based on the national minimum wage and usually changes on 1 July each year. You are paid the rate of the financial year in which you take each day, not the rate of the year your baby was born. For days taken in 2025-26, the rate was $189.62 a day; for days in 2026-27, it is $200.94.
Worked examples (before tax)
A single mother, baby born in August 2026, takes all 130 days in one block during 2026-27: 130 x $200.94 = $26,122.20, plus the ATO super contribution.
A couple, baby born in September 2026: the birth mother takes 110 days and her partner takes the 20 reserved days, all in 2026-27. The family receives 130 x $200.94 = $26,122.20 in total: $22,103.40 for her (110 days) and $4,018.80 for her partner (20 days).
A partnered mother whose partner does not claim: the 20 reserved days are lost, so the most she can receive is 110 days, or $22,103.40.
These are simple multiplications of the official rate. Tax depends on your total income for the year.
Single parent or partnered
- Single parents get all the days and can choose to share some with the other parent.
- Partnered parents must leave 20 days for the partner. To use the full 130 days, both of you need to be eligible and both of you need to claim. See leave for dads and partners.
Taking days together
You and the other parent can take up to 20 days at the same time for a child born from 1 July 2025. Services Australia can allow more as an exemption, for example if the birth mother had a caesarean or a complication at birth, if your baby stayed in hospital for at least 14 days after birth, if you or your partner have a medical condition, for multiple births, or if your baby was stillborn or died. Ask in your claim or call the families line on 136 150.
Flexible days
Services Australia describes Parental Leave Pay as flexible. You can take:
- one block from the birth;
- a smaller block, then the rest later, including on weekends once you are back at work;
- single days to top up part-time work, for example 2 days of Parental Leave Pay each week alongside 3 days of work.
You must tell Services Australia at least one day when you claim; the rest stays in your balance. You cannot take days before the birth or adoption, and you cannot work more than one hour on a Parental Leave Pay day. If you are the birth mother, you must not work at all in the 14 days after the birth.
Tax and super
Parental Leave Pay is taxable. If Services Australia pays you, it withholds 15% unless you ask for a different rate, which may not cover all your tax. If your employer pays you, normal PAYG withholding applies and you can even salary sacrifice. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a superannuation contribution on your Parental Leave Pay automatically after the financial year ends.
Your next steps
- Check you meet the income test, work test and residence rules.
- Decide with the other parent how many days each of you will take.
- Find out whether your employer or Centrelink will pay you, and claim up to 3 months before the birth.
- Plan your unpaid parental leave and notice to your employer.
Our guide Having a Baby in Australia includes a fill-in Parental Leave Pay plan for both parents and a month-by-month checklist.
Questions parents ask
How much is Parental Leave Pay per week in 2026?
For days taken in the 2026-27 financial year, $1,004.70 per 5-day week before tax, or $200.94 a day, as of October 2026. The rate is based on the national minimum wage and usually changes on 1 July.
How many weeks of Parental Leave Pay can I get?
Up to 130 days, or 26 weeks of weekdays, for a family whose child is born or adopted from 1 July 2026. It was 120 days for children born from 1 July 2025 and 110 days from 1 July 2024.
Is Parental Leave Pay taxed?
Yes. It is taxable income. If Services Australia pays you directly, it withholds tax at 15% unless you ask for another rate; if your employer pays you, it withholds tax as for your usual pay.
Do I get super on Parental Leave Pay?
For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a superannuation contribution automatically into your fund after the end of the financial year. You do not need to claim it.
Do I get Parental Leave Pay for each twin?
No. In a multiple birth you get Parental Leave Pay for one child, but you can choose to take more than 20 days at the same time as the other parent.
Sources
- Services Australia — How much Parental Leave Pay you can get checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Parental Leave Pay days increasing from 1 July 2026 checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Choose how to take your Parental Leave Pay checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Exemptions to the limit for taking days at the same time checked October 13, 2026
- Services Australia — Getting your Parental Leave Pay (tax) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.