Residence assessment for customers claiming Parenting Payment (PP) 106-06020110
Expand allLone parent exemption examples
Scenario 1
Heidi, her partner Ray and their 3 year old daughter Emma were granted permanent residence visas and moved to Australia to live on 12 September 2023. On 11 December 2024, Heidi lodged a claim for Parenting Payment Single (PPS) advising she and Ray separated on 1 December 2024 and she was now the principal carer of Emma.
Heidi is eligible for a lone parent exemption as she:
- was not a lone parent on the start date of her current period as an Australian resident (12 September 2023), and
- is the principal carer of a dependent child, and
- separated from her partner after the start date of her current period as an Australian resident
Heidi meets the residence requirements for PPS as she is an Australian resident (she holds a permanent residence visa and is residing in Australia) and she has an exemption from both the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) and qualifying residence period under the lone parent exemption.
Scenario 2
Cameron and their 8 year old child Eliza, permanent residence visa holders, moved to Australia to live on 5 February 2024. Cameron became partnered to Michael on 6 June 2024 and they moved in together on 12 October 2024. They then separated on 14 May 2025. On 20 May 2025, Cameron submitted a claim for Parenting Payment Single (PPS).
Cameron is not eligible for a lone parent exemption. Although Cameron is no longer the member of a couple and is the principal carer of a dependent child, they cannot meet the lone parent exemption criteria, as they were a lone parent on the start date of their current period as an Australian resident.
Cameron is required to serve the NARWP and qualifying residence period, or have an exemption for another reason, before being eligible for PPS.
Scenario 3
Sophie, her husband Felix and their 5 year old son Billy were granted temporary visas and came to Australia on 29 January 2023, with the intention to live in Australia indefinitely. When they arrived, they applied for permanent residence visas. On 3 July 2024, Sophie and Felix separate and Sophie becomes the principal carer of Billy. On 1 November 2024 Sophie’s permanent visa is granted, and on 3 November 2024 she claims Parenting Payment Single (PPS).
Sophie is not eligible for the lone parent exemption. Sophie became an ‘Australian resident’ on 1 November 2024 when she was granted her permanent visa (as she was also residing in Australia) – this is the start date of her current period as an Australian resident. Therefore, as Sophie separated from Felix on 3 July 2024, she was a lone parent before the start date of her current period as an Australian resident.
Sophie is required to serve the NARWP and qualifying residence period, or have an exemption for another reason, before being eligible for PPS.