Parental Leave Goes to 26 Weeks in July 2026 — What's New and How to Claim

From 1 July 2026, government-funded Paid Parental Leave (PPL) increases from 24 weeks to 26 weeks (half a year of paid leave for new parents).

The key changes:

• Total leave: 26 weeks (up from 24)
• Use-it-or-lose-it: Each parent in a couple must take at least 4 weeks (up from 3) — you can't transfer it to your partner
• Single parents: Get all 26 weeks
• Payment rate: National minimum wage — currently $26.44/hr ($1,004.90/week before tax)

Of the 26 weeks total, 4 weeks are reserved for each parent. If one parent doesn't take their 4 weeks, those weeks are lost — they can't be transferred.

The remaining 18 weeks can be split however the couple chooses. For example:

• Mum takes 22 weeks, Dad takes 4 weeks — valid
• Both take 13 weeks each — valid
• Mum takes 26 weeks, Dad takes 0 — NOT valid (Dad's 4 weeks are lost)

The policy is designed to encourage both parents — particularly fathers — to take time off with their newborn.

To qualify for government PPL, you must:

• Be the birth parent, adoptive parent, or partner of one
• Earn under $186,487 (individual PPL income limit) in the financial year before the birth or adoption
• Have worked at least 10 of the last 13 months before the birth, with at least 330 hours in that 10-month period (about 1 day a week)
• Be an Australian resident

The work test has some flexibility — you can count work for different employers, and there are exceptions for pregnancy complications, premature birth, or stillbirth.

Yes — and this is one of the best parts of the current scheme. You can take PPL:

• In one continuous block — the traditional approach
• In separate blocks — e.g., 12 weeks after birth, then another block later
• On part-time basis — stretch it out over more weeks at fewer days per week (with employer agreement)
• Concurrently with your partner — both parents can be on PPL at the same time

All PPL must be taken within 24 months of the birth or adoption.

Claim through Services Australia (Centrelink):

• When to claim: Up to 3 months before the expected birth or adoption date
• How: Online via myGov (linked to Centrelink), or call 136 150
• Documents needed: Proof of birth/adoption, income details, employer details
• Employer role: Your employer provides the leave (they're reimbursed by the government), or payments come directly from Services Australia

Check your leave entitlements — including any employer-funded parental leave on top of the government scheme — with our parental leave calculator.

The government PPL is the minimum. Many employers offer additional paid parental leave on top. These can be taken together, meaning some workers get 6+ months of paid leave.

Key points:

• Employer parental leave is set by your employment contract or enterprise agreement
• Your employer cannot reduce their own scheme to offset the government increase
• You're also entitled to up to 12 months unpaid parental leave under the NES, with a right to request an additional 12 months