Eligibility for Parenting Payment (PP) 001-05010000

There are 2 different payment rates:

• Parenting Payment Single (PPS) - for single parents, and
• Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) - for partnered parents

To be eligible for PP, a person must be both qualified and payable.

In general, to be qualified for PP a person must:

• be the principal carer of a PP child aged under 14 (single parents) or under 6 (partnered parents)
• meet residence requirements
• meet mutual obligation requirements if required

Payability for PP

• There are no age provisions for a customer to be eligible for PP. If the customer is under the age of consent, see Customer or partner under the age of consent
• PP is not payable if income and assets exceed the thresholds (this includes partner income and assets if partnered). PP cannot be granted at nil rate. See Parenting Payment Single (PPS) income and assets tests and Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) income and assets tests. If system allows grant at nil rate, report as a system issue
• PP is not payable before the start day
• Tax File Number details for both customer and partner (if applicable) must be provided
• Multiple entitlement exclusions
• Identity confirmation for PP claimant
• Applicable waiting periods and preclusion periods:
• Income Maintenance Period (IMP)
• Ordinary Waiting Period
• Seasonal Work Preclusion Period (SWPP)
• Admission process for customers entering prison or psychiatric confinement
• Compensation Preclusion Period
• Unemployment due to a voluntary act or misconduct if the customer has mutual obligation requirements
• Financial penalty as a result of compliance action such as post-cancellation non-payment period, or serious failure period
• Payment destination details must be provided for delivery of payment of PP
• The rate of PP must be greater than nil. PP may remain current during an employment income nil rate period. However, PP cannot be granted at nil rate. See Parenting Payment Single (PPS) income and assets tests and Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) income and assets tests. If system allows grant at nil rate, report as a system issue
• Entitlement where the recipient or child is temporarily overseas for PPS or PPP
• Generally, family assistance payments do not affect PP payability as they are exempt income under social security law
• Income received under the Paid Parental Leave scheme is considered assessable income under social security law and will affect PPP payability or PPS rate. This includes Parental Leave Pay (PPL)

If the customer is a grandparent or non-parent carer of children and lives in the same house as the parent/s, they are generally not eligible for payments. This may become evident when checking the current living arrangements of the customer. For more information on circumstances where a grandparent may be considered to be the principal carer of a child, see Help for grandparents caring for children and Principal carer of a dependent child.

If the customer’s partner is already in receipt of PP, the customer cannot be granted PP. Only one member of a couple can be considered the principal carer of a child and therefore receive PP. If the couple decide that the other member of the couple should receive PPP, advise the customer that their partner will need to confirm this with the agency. The partner’s PP will need to be cancelled before the customer can be granted, but the cancellation must not occur prior to confirming details with the partner.

PP may be paid for a 14 week bereavement period where a child has died soon after birth if PP is claimed within 4 weeks of the date of birth. Customers are not eligible for PP for a stillborn child. However, Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP) can be paid if the customer is not eligible for Parental Leave Pay (PPL).

See Death of a Parenting Payment (PP) child.

Eligible PP customers can volunteer for Parent Pathways. This service focuses on offering flexible and individualised support to parents with children under the age of 6 plan for or pursue their study, training and work goals.