Parenting Payment, in plain English
Parenting Payment is the main income support payment for a person who is the principal carer of a young child in Australia. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink. It is not a payment for every parent, and it is not the same as Family Tax Benefit or Parental Leave Pay. This site explains who can get it, how much it pays, how income and assets affect it, what you must do while you are receiving it, and what happens when your youngest child reaches the age limit.
Parenting Payment in one paragraph
You may be able to get Parenting Payment if you are the principal carer of a child, you meet the residence rules, and you are under the income and assets limits. A single principal carer can generally receive it until the youngest child turns 14. A partnered principal carer can generally receive it until the youngest child turns 6. The maximum rate depends on whether you are single or partnered, and the amount you actually receive depends on your income, your partner's income if you have one, and your assets. If you are single and your youngest child is 6 or over, you must also meet mutual obligation requirements unless you have an exemption.
The numbers that matter most, from 20 September 2026
| Situation | Maximum, per fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, basic Parenting Payment | $1,037.50, plus a Pension Supplement of $30.70 |
| Single, typical total with supplements | $1,087.20, including a Pharmaceutical Allowance of $7.00 and an Energy Supplement of $12.00 |
| Partnered, basic Parenting Payment | $755.10 |
| Partnered, typical total with Energy Supplement | $763.00 |
| Partnered, separated due to illness, respite care or prison | $883.30 |
Rates are updated on 20 March and 20 September each year, so the figures above are the position from 20 September 2026, not a permanent rate. Parenting Payment is a taxable payment. If you are eligible, you will also get an Energy Supplement, and Rent Assistance is assessed when you claim, so you do not need a separate claim for it. Other help you may also be assessed for includes Pharmaceutical Allowance, Telephone Allowance, an Education Entry Payment, a Pensioner Education Supplement, Mobility Allowance and Remote Area Allowance, depending on your circumstances.
How this site is organised
Start with who can claim for the principal carer test, the residence rules and the two child-age cut-offs. Rates and supplements gives the full table for the current indexation period and explains what each supplement is. The income test and the assets test show how earnings, partner income, savings and property change the amount paid. Mutual obligations explains the 30-hour-per-fortnight requirement for single principal carers once the youngest child is 6, and the voluntary Parent Pathways service for parents of younger children. How to claim lists what to have ready and the waiting periods that can delay a first payment. Reporting and changes covers fortnightly reporting and the changes you must tell Services Australia about. When the youngest child ages out explains the move off Parenting Payment and what to consider next. Parenting Payment compared with Family Tax Benefit, Parental Leave Pay and JobSeeker Payment keeps the four payments apart, and FAQ and myths answers the questions people ask most.
Three common misunderstandings, cleared up at the start
Parenting Payment is not paid for every child in the family. It is paid to one principal carer, and the age that matters is the age of the youngest child in your care. An older child starting school does not end the payment, but the youngest child reaching 14 for a single carer, or 6 for a partnered carer, does. Parenting Payment is not an extra payment on top of a full wage. It is income tested, so earnings above the free area reduce it, and assets above the limit can stop it altogether. Parenting Payment does not replace Family Tax Benefit. The two are separate payments with separate claims and separate tests, and many families receive both. The comparison page explains how they fit together without double-counting the same need.
One warning that applies to the whole site: Centrelink rules and rates change, and the March and September indexation moves the figures twice a year. Treat every figure here as the position from 20 September 2026 and check Services Australia for the current rate before you rely on it for a decision.