The $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 amount is calculated from the national minimum wage, which is set on a daily rate and then converted into a five‑day weekly figure. For 2025–26, that works out to about $189.62 per day, or $948.10 per week before tax, and everyone on the government scheme receives the same rate, regardless of what they used to earn. This makes the payment predictable and easy to plan around, especially for casual or part‑time workers whose income can fluctuate.
Parents can receive up to 120 days of Paid Parental Leave from 1 July 2025, which equals 24 weeks at the $948 weekly rate. These days don’t have to be used all at once; they can be spread across the first two years of the child’s life, and they can be shared between eligible partners. The idea is to give families more control over how and when they use their government support, while still guaranteeing a minimum income during key weeks at home.
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$948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Payment name | Parental Leave Pay (government-funded) |
| Weekly rate 2025–26 | $948.10 per five‑day week before tax |
| Daily rate | About $189.62 per day |
| Maximum duration (from 1 July 2025) | 120 days / 24 weeks for eligible births and adoptions |
| Maximum duration (from 1 July 2026) | 130 days / 26 weeks |
| Superannuation boost | 12% super contribution on total PLP received |
| Income threshold | Individual income up to around $180,000, plus a higher family cap |
| Work test | Worked 10 of 13 months before birth/adoption, at least 330 hours |
| Who pays you | Centrelink directly or via your employer’s payroll |
| Claim window | Up to 3 months before, or within 12 months after birth/adoption |
What Has Changed In 2025
The 2025 changes to Parental Leave Pay are more than just a small rate rise. First, the headline weekly amount now sits at $948.10, which is higher than the 2024–25 rate and will continue to track annual minimum wage reviews. This matters for families already feeling the squeeze of rent, groceries and energy bills, because each week of leave now brings in a little more cash than in previous years.
Second, the structure of the scheme has become more generous and flexible. The total length of government‑funded leave has been expanding in stages: from the old 18 weeks to 20, then 22, and now 24 weeks in 2025, with a legislated jump to 26 weeks in 2026. On top of this, parents can spread their days across two years, use them in blocks, or mix them with employer leave, making it easier to tailor leave to work rosters, business demands or personal preferences.
Eligibility Requirements For $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025
- To tap into the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025, you need to satisfy three main tests: residency, income and work history. You must be living in Australia and meet the residency rules or hold an eligible visa, and you must be the primary carer of a child who is newborn or newly adopted. That usually means the parent who is spending most of the day‑to‑day time caring for the baby.
- On the income side, the government checks your taxable income against an individual threshold, which currently sits around $180,000 in the relevant financial year. If you exceed this, there may be a secondary family income cap, but in most cases, single‑income households or average dual‑income families will fall under the limits. Then there is the work test: you must have worked at least 10 of the 13 months before the birth or adoption and clocked at least 330 hours during that time, which is roughly one day a week on average. Casual, part‑time, full‑time, self‑employed and some contract work can count, as long as it was paid.
How The Superannuation Boost Works
One of the most significant updates that makes the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 stand out is the new superannuation boost. For the first time, the government will pay a 12% super contribution on top of your PLP, calculated on the total amount of Paid Parental Leave you receive in a financial year. Over the full 24 weeks at $948 a week, that can mean roughly an extra $2,600 going into your super fund.
This boost doesn’t land in your account every fortnight like the cash payment. Instead, after the end of the financial year, the Australian Taxation Office works out how much PLP you were paid and then sends a lump‑sum contribution to your nominated super fund. You don’t need to lodge a separate claim for the super; it happens automatically as long as your fund details are up to date. Over time, these contributions can grow significantly, helping to close the gender super gap that often widens when women and primary carers step away from work.
How And When You Get Paid
Once your claim is approved, your $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 can be paid either by Centrelink or through your employer. If your employer meets certain conditions, they may be required to act as a paymaster for long blocks of leave, meaning the government spends money to them and they pass it on through their usual payroll system. If not, Services Australia can pay you directly into your bank account. Payments can begin from the date you nominate, as long as it falls within the rules and your baby has arrived, or the adoption is finalised. You can choose to take weeks in one continuous block, or you might carve out smaller blocks or even individual days across the first two years of your child’s life. The key rule is that you cannot be “working” on a day that you claim government PLP, though you may be able to use “keeping in touch” days or mix PLP with employer leave depending on your arrangement.
Shared Care And Partner Weeks
Another big part of the changes around the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 is the push for more shared parenting. The scheme now allows both parents to share the total pool of days, rather than locking most of the leave solely to the birth mother. A portion of the total entitlement is set aside for the second parent or partner and cannot be transferred, encouraging more fathers and partners to take meaningful time at home. Couples can also take some leave at the same time, so there can be a period where both parents are at home on paid parental leave with their baby. This can be especially helpful in the early weeks after birth, during medical appointments, or when navigating sleep schedules and feeding routines. By sharing leave more evenly, the system aims to reduce the long‑term income and career hit that often falls on just one parent.
How To Apply For $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025
- If you want to access the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025, it’s smart to get organised before your due date. You can start a claim up to three months before the expected birth or adoption through your online account linked to myGov. The process typically involves verifying your identity, providing income details and work history, and nominating when you want your Paid Parental Leave to start.
- After your baby is born, you’ll need to lodge proof of birth so Services Australia can finalise the claim and start payments. If you don’t apply ahead of time, you still have up to 12 months after the birth or adoption to lodge a claim, but remember that all PLP days must be taken before your child turns two. It’s worth checking with your employer HR team early as well, especially if they offer their own paid parental leave that can be combined with the government scheme.
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Why These Changes Matter For Families
- The combination of the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 rate, expanded weeks of leave and the new superannuation payments adds up to one of the most generous versions of the scheme Australia has seen. For many families, this means more confidence to take real time off rather than rushing back to work purely because of money worries. For others, especially casual or gig workers, the flat, predictable rate brings much‑needed stability at a vulnerable time.
- In the long run, the super boost may be just as important as the weekly cash. Every period out of the workforce usually means lost super contributions, and over decades, those gaps can translate into tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars less at retirement. By linking PLP to super at 12%, the scheme signals that caring for children is real work that should not permanently punish a parent’s super balance.
FAQs on $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025
1. Who can get the $948 Centrelink Parental Leave Pay 2025 amount?
You can receive the $948 weekly rate if you are the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopted child, meet the residency rules, fall under the income threshold, and satisfy the work test in the 13 months before birth or adoption.
2. Does the $948 rate change every year?
Yes. The $948.10 figure is linked to the national minimum wage, which is reviewed annually. That means the exact Parental Leave Pay amount can move up over time as minimum wages rise.
3. Can I receive employer leave as well as government Paid Parental Leave?
In many cases, yes. You can use your employer’s paid parental leave or annual leave together with the government scheme, as long as you are not considered to be “working” on days you claim the government PLP.
4. How is the superannuation top‑up on PLP paid?
The 12% superannuation contribution is calculated on the total amount of Paid Parental Leave you receive in a financial year and then paid as a lump sum into your nominated super fund after the end of that year.
