Parenting Payment and income support

Start with your caring circumstances

Parenting Payment is income support for a young child's main carer. If you are single, the child must be younger than 14. Income, assets and residence rules also apply. Separation does not automatically start a payment, and this payment is separate from Family Tax Benefit and Parental Leave Pay.

Ask Services Australia which payment fits your circumstances. If you are still deciding whether to separate, you can ask about possible support without declaring that a separation has already happened. Living separately under the same roof needs agency assessment.

• Check Parenting Payment eligibility (external website)↗

Understand principal-carer status

The principal carer has the greatest responsibility for the child's everyday care, welfare and development. Shared care does not mean both parents can be principal carer for the same child at the same time. Equal-care carers need to nominate who is principal carer.

This test is different from the care percentages used for family assistance. If care is disputed, or discussing it with the other parent would be unsafe, ask the agency for help rather than trying to settle the question through this website.

• Read the principal-carer rules (external website)↗

Prepare and make your claim

Use the official claim guide to check documents and claim through Centrelink linked to myGov, or ask for help if online claiming is difficult. Keep a copy of what you submit. Ask what is missing and how to provide it securely.

Before putting a new address or bank details into linked records, ask the relevant services to separate those records safely. If documents are inaccessible because of abuse, tell Services Australia. Do not delay asking for support solely because you cannot safely obtain them.

• Have details of your care, income, assets and living arrangements ready where safe.
• Check whether you also need FTB, child-care assistance or rent support.
• Ask about help while your claim is being assessed; approval and payment timing vary.

• Follow the official claim steps (external website)↗
• Protect your information first (external website)↗

Keep support up to date

Changes to care, earnings, study, housing or a new relationship may affect entitlement. Single principal carers can have mutual obligations once the youngest child reaches 6, unless an exemption applies. Ask about suitable work, childcare difficulties and exemptions before assuming obligations have stopped.

If Parenting Payment is ending or does not fit, ask about other income support and concession cards. Check the decision letter and review route if you disagree.

• Check principal-carer commitments (external website)↗

Your next step

Use the official links above, or find local services in your state.

Related guides

• Family Tax Benefit
• Child-care costs and subsidies
• Rent Assistance and concession cards
• Report changes to payments and services
• Payment decisions, debts and reviews