Most people know about the Australian Government's 18 weeks paid parental leave scheme, but did you know that fathers and same sex partners can take two weeks pay at the minimum wage for babies born after 1 January 2013?
'Dad and Partner Pay' can be taken from 3 months before the birth or adoption of your child, and up to 12 months afterwards. It can be taken in addition to the mother taking 18 weeks paid parental leave.
I read this with glee when I first found out. I'm due with my third child in early January and I'll definitely need all the help I can get.
Whilst the 2 weeks parental pay is at minimum wage, it's definitely encouraging to see that the government is supportive in enabling fathers to be able to bond with their newborn (and give the new mother a break too)! The Family Assistance Office is in charge of administering this once-off payment, with the minimum weekly wage currently set at $606 per week before tax.
As expected, there are some conditions attached for the father to receive the 2 weeks paid parental leave. Eligibility includes full-time, part-time, casual, contract, seasonal and self-employed workers, as long as they are on unpaid leave and do not work during the two week period (excluding housework of course!). The father must have earned less than $150,000 in the previous financial year and have worked more than one day in a week in ten of the thirteen months before the birth or adoption of the child or at least 330 hours.
Having a child can put financial pressure on household budgets, so its definitely a good idea to plan and be prepared and know about all the entitlements you can access. If you run your own business or can control your wage to some extent, make sure you are aware of the thresholds that entitlements cut off at, and consider structuring finances in such a way to maximise entitlements, if at all possible.
So it looks like I won't be eating spicy curries, drinking castor oil or raspberry leaf tea, or partaking in any other midwives tales about bringing on birth. At least not until after the 31st December, to make sure my husband gets the 2 weeks parental leave!
Hi there.
ReplyDeleteI’m part of the team that’s helping to let Australian families know about new initiatives such as Dad and Partner Pay. Your post has got a lot of great information, but there’s just one point I want to clarify.
Eligible dads or partners can lodge claims for Dad and Partner Pay up to three months before the expected date of birth or adoption of their child, or within 12 months following their child’s birth or adoption.
Check out www.australia.gov.au/dadandpartnerpay
and facebook.com/FamiliesinAustralia for more information.