Parental Leave Pay (PPL) for children born or entered care after 1 July 2020 and before 1 July 2023 007-09020010

Item

Description

1

Birth mother not eligible due to work test

Sarah and Rob are expecting their first child. Sarah enquires about making a per-birth claim for PPL.

Sarah has not been working and does not meet the work test. Sarah enquires if partner Rob is eligible for PPL instead.

Rob works and has arranged to take leave from work to be at home to care for their newborn child and support Sarah.

As the birth mother, Sarah must be assessed as the primary claimant for PPL unless exceptional circumstance criteria are met. As Sarah intends on caring for the newborn child and is capable of doing so, exceptional circumstances are not met. Sarah must first meet all the eligibility as a primary claimant if Sarah wanted to transfer the PPL to Rob.

PPL provides birth mothers who have been in the work force with the opportunity to take time off work to care for their newborn child and to recover following the birth.

Sarah is advised that the Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment is available. Sarah is invited to claim and test eligibility for Family Tax Benefit (FTB). As Sarah’s partner Rob is taking time off work, Sarah is also advised about the possibility of Rob claiming Dad and Partner Pay.

2

Claim lodged by partner of birth mother

John lodges an online claim for PPL on 5 August for baby born on 2 August. A scanned copy of the Newborn Child Declaration (FA081) is provided as proof of birth.

John's partner Julie is the birth mother but John has claimed because Julie is still in hospital and John has taken time off work to care for the family.

Julie is still capable of caring for their baby.

John's PPL claim is rejected reason 'PPC', due to not being considered the primary claimant.

On 21 August, Julie submits an online claim and provides all information required to assess the claim, including work test and income test information. The FA081 lodged by John can be used as proof of the child's birth.

If Julie is not eligible for PPL, for example, because of the work or income tests, John will not be eligible as a secondary claimant. Julie or John:

• should be invited to claim and test their eligibility for Family Tax Benefit, and
• be advised that Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment may be paid instead

John may also want to claim for Dad and Partner Pay.

3

Primary claimant returns to work - transfer to partner

Sally has a baby on 10 August and lodges a claim for PPL 2 weeks later.

Sally plans to return to work on 5 October (2 months after the birth), and states in the claim that Sally's partner Jim will look after their baby from that date. Sally will only be eligible for PPL up until returning to work.

Jim also lodges a claim and is eligible for PPL, it is agreed that Jim will claim and receive PPL for the remainder of the PPL period. Jim provides all information required for the claim to be assessed.

Sally receives PPL for the period until 4 October, the day before returning to work, and transfers primary care to Jim. Sally's PPL period cancels from 5 October, reason 'TTP' (Transfer portion of PPL entitlement to partner).

Jim also meets all PPL eligibility requirements and receives PPL for the period 5 October to 13 December as a secondary claimant.

As Flexible PPL days can be claimed before or after the primary claimant has returned to work, Sally can:

• claim them on days that Sally is the child’s primary carer and is not working, or
• choose to give permission for Jim to claim some or all of the Flexible PPL days

Jim may also want to claim for Dad and Partner Pay.

4

Delayed return to work and paid leave

Naomi is a teacher who is receiving PPL. Naomi plans to return to work on the first day of term despite not receiving the full 12 week PPL period.

Unfortunately, as the baby is unwell for the first 3 days of term, Naomi is unable to leave the baby at child care and applies for carer leave for this period. Naomi has access to 2 days paid carer leave and takes the third day as unpaid carer leave. Naomi starts work on the fourth day of the term.

As Naomi has not performed one hour or more of paid work prior to the fourth day of term, the fourth day is the return to work date. Naomi’s PPL period is paid up to the fourth day of term as she is not considered to have worked on days 1 to 3.

5

Transfer of full PPL entitlement to secondary claimant from date of birth (explaining limited PPL eligibility criteria for the primary claimant)

Mary has a baby on 3 August and lodges a claim for PPL 3 weeks later.

Mary indicates in the claim that Mary wants to transfer the full PPL period and give permission to claim all 30 Flexible PPL days to partner, Paul, from the child's date of birth as Mary had returned to work a few weeks after the birth on 19 August.

As Mary is transferring the full PPL entitlement from the child's date of birth, Mary only needs to meet limited eligibility criteria of the:

• work test and income test, and
• residence test on the date the child is born

Before Mary's claim is assessed, Paul needs to lodge a PPL claim at the same time. A Q999 is sent to Mary requesting Paul lodges a claim within 14 days.

6

Transfer full PPL entitlement to secondary claimant from a date after the child's date of birth - primary claimant has only claimed (process of lodging ‘at the same time’)

Fiona has a baby on 4 July and lodges a claim for PPL 4 weeks later.

In the PPL claim, Fiona indicates that Fiona transferred primary care of the child to partner Philip, on 20 July and returned to work on the same day. Fiona also wishes to transfer the full PPL period and give permission to claim all 30 Flexible PPL days to Philip from 1 August.

Fiona meets all PPL eligibility for each day from the child's date of birth, up to and including 19 July (the day before Fiona returned to work). As Fiona is eligible for PPL, Fiona's full PPL entitlement can be transferred to Philip. Before Philip can be paid PPL for the child Phillip must:

• submit an effective claim at the same time as Fiona
• be eligible for PPL as a secondary claimant, and
• satisfy the full PPL eligibility criteria from 20 July, when Phillip became the child's primary carer

Before finalising Fiona's claim for PPL, Philip's claim must be lodged. As Philip has not lodged a claim, a Q999 must be sent to Fiona advising that Philip must submit a claim for PPL within 14 days. If Philip does not submit a claim within the timeframe it may not meet the 'lodged at the same time' criteria. Fiona's claim for PPL will be finalised and deemed not effective with a reason of 'OTH'er.

7

Transfer full PPL entitlement to secondary claimant from a date after the child's date of birth - secondary claimant only has claimed

Lisa has a baby on 20 September. Lisa's partner, Steve, lodges a claim for PPL on 20 October.

In the PPL claim, Steve advises of claiming PPL because Lisa is transferring the full PPL period to Steve. Before assessing Steve's claim, a Q999 must be sent to Steve advising that Lisa must submit a claim for PPL within 14 days before Steve's entitlement to PPL can be assessed.

On 2 November, Lisa lodges a claim for PPL and in the claim indicates that Lisa has returned to work and transferred primary care of their child to Steve on 16 October. Lisa also advises the intention to transfer the full PPL period and all 30 Flexible PPL days to Steve from 16 October.

As the primary claimant's claim must be assessed before the secondary claimant's claim, the Service Officer assesses Lisa's claim first and establishes Lisa meets the relevant PPL eligibility criteria from the child's date of birth up to and including 15 October (the day before returning to work). Lisa's claim is finalised with:

• a PPL period level rejection REJ-TFR due to transferring the PPL period, and
• PPL/CZR-FLX as the Flexible PPL days are current with a balance of zero unclaimed days and 30 days given to another person

As Lisa's claim has been finalised, Steve's claim can now be assessed.

Until Steve claims all 30 Flexible PPL days, Lisa can remove permission and claim the days for dates when the child is in Lisa’s primary care.

8

PPL can be backdated to the child’s date of birth if the proof of birth and all other documents have been lodged within 28 days of the birth

Jenny's baby Gabrielle is born on 20 May. Jenny has already lodged a pre-birth PPL claim for Gabrielle on 25 April, which was assessed and awaiting proof of birth.

Jenny uploads the proof of birth via Upload documents on 17 June.

As Jenny has submitted all the required documentation within the 28 day time frame, Jenny's PPL period can begin from Gabrielle's birthdate of 20 May.

9

PPL as income for income support payment

Betty is currently receiving Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) for Betty's 3 year old child. Betty was working casually for the last 13 months and has submitted an effective PPL claim for the newborn child.

Betty elects to receive PPL for the 18 weeks following the birth of the child by connecting all 30 Flexible PPL days to the end of the PPL period. The PPL income causes Betty's PPP to be 'CAN'celled/'INC'ome. Betty will be required to provide an updated estimate of income for Family Tax Benefit (FTB).

When the PPL payments ceases Betty will need to contact Services Australia to have PPP reinstated.

10

PPL period counts as work for the PPL Work Test

Hilda has a child Horatio, born on 28 December 2020. Hilda was paid PPL for Horatio from 1 April 2021 to 12 August 2021.

On 12 April 2022, Hilda gives birth to another child, Sven.

Hilda can count the previous PPL period as qualifying work towards the work test for the PPL claim for Sven as the previous PPL period occurred within the relevant 13 month work test period.

11

Claim lodged by another person who is not the parent of the child

Jane is 37 weeks pregnant and is seriously injured in a car accident with partner Simon. Jane's baby is delivered alive and immediately placed into the care of Jane's mother Sue, as neither Jane nor Simon can care for the baby. The doctor confirmed that both Jane and Simon are expected to remain in hospital for a minimum of 26 weeks.

Sue lodges a claim for PPL and FTB as Sue needed to cease work to care for the baby.

Sue meets all eligibility criteria and is granted PPL for the baby as a primary claimant in exceptional circumstances as:

• Sue is expected to have care of the baby for at least 26 weeks, and
• the baby is under one year of age when entering Sue's care, and
• the baby was not placed in Sue's care by a state or territory agency, and
• evidence has been provided to show both the birth mother and the birth mother's partner are incapable of caring for the baby for at least 26 weeks

12

Return to work while child remained in hospital

Kylie’s child Roslyn was born prematurely on 1 February. Following the birth, Roslyn remained in hospital until 3 March.

Kylie returned to work on 15 February and worked until Roslyn was discharged from hospital, commencing maternity leave from work on 3 March. As Kylie returned to work more than 14 days after Roslyn was born and ceased work on the day Roslyn was discharged from hospital, the return to work can be disregarded.

13

Birth mother returned to work less than 14 days after child’s date of birth

Shelly’s child Charlie was born prematurely on 1 February. Following the birth Charlie remained in hospital until 3 March.

Shelly returned to work on 7 February and worked until Charlie was discharged from hospital, commencing maternity leave on 3 March.

As Shelly returned to work within 14 days of Charlie’s date of birth, Shelly is not eligible for PPL.

14

Secondary claimant returned to work less than 14 days after a child’s date of birth in addition to child remaining in hospital following premature birth

Melissa and Daniel’s child Alfie was born prematurely on 1 February. Following the birth, Alfie remained in hospital until 3 March.

Daniel was Alfie’s primary carer from birth. Melissa and Daniel both returned to work on 10 February. On 3 March, when Alfie was released from hospital, Daniel finished work to care for Alfie. Melissa transferred the full PPL entitlement to Daniel and nominated a start date of 3 March. As Daniel is not the birth mother Daniel's return to work within the 14 days following Alfie’s date of birth can be disregarded. Provided Melissa meets the eligibility criteria for a full transfer of PPL and Daniel meets the other eligibility criteria for PPL as a secondary claimant, Daniel is eligible for PPL.

15

Primary claimant in exceptional circumstances

Joanne gave birth to James on 1 December. Due to complications with the delivery, Joanne was placed into coma. Peter, Joanne’s partner, became the primary carer of their newborn child James.

Peter claimed PPL for James 5 December as a primary claimant. Peter provided a letter from Joanne’s doctor confirming Joanne was unable to care for James and that the incapacity was expected to last at least 26 weeks.

Peter was granted PPL from James’s date of birth, as Peter:

• lodged an effective claim within 28 days of James’s birth
• met the full eligibility criteria, and
• provided evidence to support the exceptional circumstance

Item

Terms

1

42D, A24, CWF, DAP, DXP, FNA, FNG, NPF, NRF, NRQ, NWA, NWF, OOC, OTH, OVP, WOF, STC

Codes

Manual or Auto

Description

42D

Manual

Requested date is more than 42 days in the past

A24

Manual

Requested date is more than 2 years after the DOB/DOC

CWF

Manual

Customer has withdrawn Flexible PPL day which was claimed for a date in the future

DAP

Auto

DAP already payable on the day for that same child. Note: this occurs when the DAP period calculation has been already made.

DXP

Auto

Maximum amount of PPL/DAP payable

FNA

Auto

Requested date is not granted

FNG

Auto

Requested date is more than 2 years after the DOB/DOC

NPF

Auto

Customer not primary carer of the child

NRF

Auto

Residency requirement not met

NWF

Auto

Customer returned to work

NRQ

Auto

Not residentially qualified

NWA

Auto

Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) not met.

OOC

Auto

Overlap with other claimants

OTH

Manual

Other - status reason is not specifically provided for

OVP

Auto

Date selected overlaps with PPL period or connected Flexible PPL days

WOF

Auto

Working on a Flexible PPL day

STC

Auto

Connected Flexible PPL days changed to not connected

Item

Description

1

Expected versus actual date of birth

Jessie lodges a pre-birth claim for PPL. Jessie's child's expected date of birth is 16 February 2021. Jessie nominates the child's date of birth as the PPL period start date and has chosen to connect 20 Flexible PPL days.

Jessie's pre-birth claim is initially assessed as:

• PPL period (12 weeks): Wednesday 16 February 2021 to Tuesday 10 May 2021 (60 payable days)
• connected Flexible PPL days: Wednesday 11 May 2021 to Tuesday 7 June 2021 (20 payable days)
• balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 10 days

Jessie's child Max is born on Saturday 19 February. Once proof of birth is provided, Jessie's claim is reassessed. As the child's actual date of birth has changed, the PPL period is reassessed which results in the connected Flexible PPL days being moved.

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 21 February 2021 to Friday 13 May 2021 (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: Monday 16 May 2021 to Friday 10 June 2021 (20 payable days)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 10 days

Item

Description

1

Continuous block of PPL extends past 1 year

Reena has claimed PPL for child Shanal who was born on 25 December 2020. Reena has chosen a nominated start date of 27 September 2021, and to connect all 30 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period to receive a continuous block of 18 weeks (90 payable days).

Reena's employer will deliver PPL.

As connected Flexible PPL days cannot be paid more than 12 months after the child's birth or adoption Reena's PPL will be assessed as:

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 27 September 2021 to Friday 17 December 2021 (60 payable days)
• connected Flexible PPL days: Monday 20 December 2021 to Friday 24 December 2021 (5 payable days)
• not connected Flexible PPL days: 27 December 2021 to Friday 28 January 2022 (15 payable days)

Reena's employer will be responsible for delivering the PPL period plus 5 connected days. Services Australia will deliver the remaining Flexible PPL days.

2

Customer claims Flexible PPL on weekend between 2 connected Flexible PPL days

Gemma chose to connect 25 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period. Gemma's employer will deliver PPL.

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 2 November to Friday 22 January (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: Monday 25 January to Friday 26 February (25 payable days)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 5 days

On 15 February, Gemma claims 2 Flexible PPL days for Saturday 6 February and Sunday 7 February. As there is now a break in the continuous Monday to Friday block of PPL, Gemma's claimed Flexible PPL days for 8 February to 26 February are no longer connected to the PPL period. They will continue to be paid on the claimed dates and be delivered by Services Australia.

3

Flexible PPL day withdrawn

Nova has chosen not to connect any Flexible PPL days to the PPL period. Nova claims 6 Flexible PPL days in the claim and leaves 24 to claim later.

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 29 March to Friday 18 June (60 payable days)
• Flexible PPL days: 9 August to 14 August (6 days)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 24 days

On 28 July, Nova withdraws the Flexible PPL days for 9 August, 10 August and 11 August. These days are returned to Nova's balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days.

• Flexible PPL days: 12 August to 14 August (3 days)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 27 days

4

Remove permission for Flexible PPL days

Hayley has chosen to connect 17 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period and has given permission for another person to claim 13 of Hayley's Flexible PPL days.

• Connected Flexible PPL days: 17 days
• Permission for another person: 13 days
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 0 days

On 16 September, Hayley's partner Ro claims 6 Flexible PPL days, leaving 7 of the transferred Flexible PPL days unclaimed.

On 18 September, Hayley revokes permission for someone else to claim the remaining 7 days. There are now no more Flexible PPL days available for someone else to claim.

• Connected Flexible PPL days: 17 days
• Permission for another person: 0 days
• Claimed by another person: 6 days
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 7 days

5

Reducing connected Flexible PPL days - PPL period has commenced

In the initial claim for PPL, Aimee chose to connect all 30 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period.

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 3 May to Friday 23 July (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: Monday 26 July to Friday 3 September (30 payable days)
• Remaining Flexible PPL days: 0

On 13 August, Aimee contacts to claim all the Flexible PPL days separately from the PPL period.

As the PPL period has started, connected Flexible PPL days can be changed from no earlier than 13 August (today's date). The Service Officer updates Aimee's connected Flexible PPL days to:

• PPL period (12 weeks): Monday 3 May to Friday 23 July (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: Monday 26 July to Thursday 12 August (14 payable weekdays)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 16 days

The Service Officer also checks whether Aimee was eligible for PPL on the connected days already paid on Monday 26 July to Thursday 12 August. Any days that Aimee was not eligible for PPL must be rejected using the relevant eligibility reason (e.g. not primary carer, working).

Aimee can nominate dates for the unclaimed Flexible PPL days now or at a later time. As the continuous block of connected Flexible PPL days has now been broken, Aimee can no longer connect any more days to the PPL period.

6

Increasing connected Flexible PPL days - PPL period has commenced

In the initial claim for PPL, Eliza chose to connect 10 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period.

• PPL period (12 weeks): 1 February to 23 April (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: 26 April to 7 May (10 payable weekdays)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 20

On 15 February, Eliza asks to connect the remaining 20 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period.

As the PPL period has commenced, the number of connected Flexible PPL days cannot be increased. However, the remaining Flexible PPL can be claimed separately as not connected Flexible PPL days.

Eliza can choose to claim them on the 20 weekdays immediately after the end of the 10 connected Flexible PPL days.

• Connected Flexible PPL days: 26 April to 7 May (10 payable weekdays)
• Not connected Flexible PPL days: 10 May to 14 May (5 days), 17 May to 21 May (5 days), 24 May to 28 May (5 days) and 31 May to 4 June (5 days)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 0

7

Increasing connected Flexible PPL days - PPL period has commenced - CSO Override

In the initial pre-birth claim for PPL, Eliza chose to connect 10 Flexible PPL days to the PPL period.

• PPL period (12 weeks): 1 February to 23 April (60 payable days)
• Connected Flexible PPL days: 26 April to 7 May (10 payable weekdays)
• Balance of unclaimed Flexible PPL days: 20

Eliza lodged the proof of birth and attempted to increase the connected period online. Due to an issue on Eliza's record an online update couldn't be done. Eliza contacted and asked for all 30 Flexible PPL days to be connected to the PPL period. The Service Officer that took the call, documented Eliza's record.

When Eliza's post birth claim was finalised the processing Service Officer did not increase the connected period and the additional days were not added to the end of Eliza's PPL connected period.

On 15 February, Eliza contacted to ask why the connected period had not been increased as requested and the remaining 20 Flexible PPL days were not connected to the PPL period.

As the PPL period has commenced, the number of connected Flexible PPL days could not be increased. However, as it can been seen that this was requested before the PPL had been made current the PPL connected period can be increased.

The Service Officer is able to add the 20 weekdays immediately after the end of the 10 connected Flexible PPL days and applied the CSO override to the individual days.

Item

Description

1

Flexible PPL declaration

The Flexible PPL declaration must be made by the customer each time they claim or withdraw a Flexible PPL day.

'I declare:

For each day I have claimed Flexible Paid Parental Leave:

• I did not/will not work unless for an allowable reason
• I had/will have primary care of the child, and
• I expect to meet Paid Parental Leave residence rules

I understand:

• I need to advise Services Australia of any changes to my circumstances as soon as the change occurs
• Services Australia can make relevant enquiries to make sure I receive my correct entitlement
• If I owe money to the Australian Government agency, Services Australia, some or all of the amount owed may be recovered from my Parental Leave Pay even if I am making regular repayments
• Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence
• Services Australia can reuse my Tax File Number provided in my initial claim for Paid Parental Leave
• If another person claims or has claimed Parental Leave Pay for the same child, Services Australia may advise them of Flexible Paid Parental Leave entitlement information relating to the child'

Item

Description

1

Permissible purpose

If a PPL customer performed work for a permissible purpose they were not considered to have returned to work. What was considered a permissible purpose varied depending on whether the customer was self-employed or an employee.

Employed

For a customer who was not self-employed, a permissible purpose was when the customer performed paid work on a keeping in touch day and had not already reached 10 keeping in touch days.

A day of paid work was a KIT day if the purpose of performing the paid work was to enable the employee to keep in touch with their employment or to facilitate a return to work.

Keeping in touch days included (but not limited to):

• attending meetings
• planning sessions
• training or conferences
• normal duties

Keeping in touch days requested by the employee could not occur within the first 14 days following the birth or adoption of the child.

Employer requested keeping in touch days could not occur within the first 42 days (6 weeks) following the birth or adoption of the child. If the employee requested or suggested a day to their employer in that period (and it was more than 2 weeks after the birth or adoption), they could participate if their employer agreed.

Both the employee and the employer had to consent to the employee performing work for the employer on a KIT day.

Self-employed

A self-employed customer could perform occasional tasks to keep an eye on their business or to ensure their business remained operational while they were on leave. Work for a permissible purpose was viewed from the context of intensity, length of time taken and whether the task was ad-hoc or occasional activities may include:

• arranging repair of equipment
• paying an account
• checking the delivery of an order, or
• dealing with an ad hoc dispute
• organising replacement staff to manage their absence from work
• maintaining a basic level of contact with clients
• keeping professional skills up to date

If a self employed customer returned to actively running or maintaining the daily operations of their business before the end of their Paid Parental Leave period, they were regarded as having returned to work.

2

Allowable exception reasons (for PPL children born or adopted before 1 July 2023)

These exceptions/allowable reasons included:

• an Australian Defence Force (ADF) member or law enforcement officer who is compulsorily recalled to duty
• complied with a summons or other compulsory process to give evidence, information or produce documents
• health professionals, emergency services or essential workers who have returned to work in response to a state, territory or national emergency
• a newborn child remained in hospital following the birth:
• for birth mothers - the return to work could be disregarded if it occurred within the period that started 14 days after the child was born and ended on the day the child was discharged from hospital. Note: if the birth mother returned to work within 14 days of the child’s birth, that return to work could not be disregarded and they were not eligible for PPL from the date they returned to work
• for all other claimants - including secondary claimants and adoptive parents, the return to work could be disregarded if it occurred within the period that started on the day the child was born and ended on the day the child was discharged from hospital
• care of the child was lost without legal authority
• child bereavement where the PPL child was stillborn or died

3

Limited PPL eligibility criteria

The primary claimant:

• meets the work test and income test, and
• meets the residence test on the date the child is born (or enters care), and
• was not subject to the NARWP on the day the child was born or adopted

4

Time limits for claiming the maximum PPL period

To receive the full 12-week PPL period for a child that is born or adopted on or after 1 July 2020 and before 1 July 2023, the primary claimant must:

• lodge the PPL claim no more than 40 weeks after the child’s birth or adoption
• choose a PPL period start date that is no more than 40 weeks after the child’s birth or adoption

PPL eligibility requirements must be met from the child’s date of birth or adoption until the end of the PPL period. The PPL period will end if:

• the customer returns to work
• is no longer primary carer of the child, or
• no longer meets PPL residence requirements

5

At the same time

‘At the same time’ means both the primary and secondary claimant’s claims for Parental Leave Pay (PPL) have been lodged, but are not yet processed. This also means that the two claims can be lodged at different times, for example, a claim from only the primary or secondary claimant has been received and the department is awaiting the ‘missing claim’.

Both claims must be lodged ‘at the same time’ in order for a payability determination to be made under section 15 of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.

6

Eligible secondary/tertiary claimant

Secondary claimant

A secondary claimant may be:

• the partner of the primary claimant
• the child's legal parent (if not the primary claimant) or their partner
• another person (only if exceptional circumstances are met)

Tertiary claimant

Generally, only one transfer of payment will be allowed and a person may not receive an amount of PPL not used by a secondary claimant. However, it is possible for a second transfer to occur in exceptional circumstances.

See User Guide above for eligibility criteria for tertiary claimants.

7

Nominated start date

When a customer claims Parental Leave Pay (PPL) (as a primary claimant) or Dad and Partner Pay (DAP), they are required to provide a date from which they would like their PPL or DAP period to begin. This date is known as their nominated start date.

A customer’s nominated start date must be between the child’s date of birth and the day before the child’s first birthday; or, for adoptions, between the date the child came into the customer’s care and the day before the first anniversary of the day the child first came into the customer’s care.

To receive their full PPL period or DAP period, a customer must nominate a start date that is equal to or more than the number of weeks in the maximum PPL/DAP period that they are entitled to before the child's first birthday or first anniversary date the child came into their care.

For example: To receive two weeks of DAP, a customer’s DAP nominated start date must be at least 2 weeks before the child’s first birthday/anniversary of care.

A customer’s nominated start date or PPL/DAP period start date is generally not the date that the customer will receive their first PPL or DAP payment. However the customer’s first PPL instalment will always be backdated to their PPL period start date.

The customer’s nominated start date is taken into account when determining their PPL period start date. However customers are required to lodge an effective claim and provide proof of birth /adoption for the child before their PPL period start date can be determined. If a customer lodges an effective claim and/or provides proof of birth more than 28 days after the date the child was born/came into care, their PPL/DAP entitlement start date can be no earlier than the date the effective claim and proof of birth/adoption were provided.

Secondary and tertiary claimants cannot nominate a PPL start date.

Changing a nominated start date

For PPL, customers can only change their nominated start date provided payments have not yet commenced. In most cases it can only be changed to a date on or after the date of the request.

For DAP, customers can change their nominated start date prior to or after the DAP period. Changes to a DAP nominated start date may result in a reassessment of the customer’s eligibility.