The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

Paid Parental Leave Guide updates - 2020

7 December 2020 (v1.66)

Page Title Details
2.2.13 Return to work & when paid work is for a permissible purpose for PLP Clarified policy.

9 November 2020 (v1.65)

There were no policy changes for this release.

21 September 2020 (v1.64)

Page Title Details
1.1.C.90 Claim Updated definition.
1.1.C.100 Claimant Updated definition.
1.1.C.143 Conditional eligibility determination New page.
1.1.C.145 Continuous flexible period New page.
1.1.C.147 Continuous PPL period New page.
1.1.D.10 Daily national minimum wage amount Updated definition.
1.1.D.90 Department of Human Services (DHS) (deleted - see 1.1.S.45) Removed information.
1.1.E.10 Effective claim Updated definition.
1.1.E.60 Employer determination Updated definition.
1.1.E.85 Employer notice New page.
1.1.E.95 Essential worker New page.
1.1.E.110 Expected PPL period New page.
1.1.F.60 Flexible PPL New page.
1.1.F.70 Flexible PPL day New page.
1.1.F.80 Flexible PPL period New page.
1.1.H.10 Has not previously satisfied the work & income tests New page.
1.1.I.70 Initial eligibility determination Updated definition.
1.1.K.10 Keeping in touch day Updated definition.
1.1.M.20 Maximum PPL period, maximum PPL period start day, maximum PPL period end day Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.M.30 Minimum amount of PPL funding amount Updated definition.
1.1.N.20 Nominated start date Updated definition.
1.1.P.50 Payability Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.P.60 Payability determination Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.P.160 PPL agency, PPL agency representative Updated to reflect agency name change.
1.1.P.170 PPL day Clarified policy.
1.1.P.200 PPL period Clarified policy.
1.1.P.240 Primary claim Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.P.270 Protected information Updated to reflect agency name change.
1.1.R.20 Reference period Updated definition.
1.1.R.50 Returns to work Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.S.20 Secondary claim Updated policy.
1.1.S.45 Services Australia (SA) New page.
1.1.S.100 Surrogacy arrangement Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.T.30 Tax file number statement Updated definition.
1.1.T.60 Tertiary claim Updated policy.
1.1.T.90 Transfer day Updated definition.
1.1.W.40 Work test period Updated example.
1.2 PPL scheme - description Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.2.1.10 Parental leave pay (PLP) objectives Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.2.2.10 Family assistance Updated policy.
1.3.3.10 Duty of care Updated to reflect agency name change.
1.3.3.20 Duty of care when giving advice or information Updated to reflect agency name change.
1.3.3.30 Duty to invite claims or volunteer information Updated to reflect agency name change.
1.3.4 Liability of decision makers Updated to reflect agency name change.
2 Eligibility for PLP & DAPP Updated policy.
2.1.1 Eligibility differences between PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.1.2 Payability differences between PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.1.3 Other differences between PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.1 PLP eligibility overview Restructured section.
2.2.2.10 When a person satisfies the work test for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.20 Work test for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.30 Premature birth & pregnancy-related complications or illness for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.40 Activities considered as 'work' for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.50 Permissible break for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.60 PLP claimant who is already eligible for DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.3.10 Reference income year for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.4.10 Australian residency test for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.4.20 Absences from Australia for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.4.30 NARWP for PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.5 Who is a primary carer for PLP? Clarified policy.
2.2.6.20 Disputed care situations/loss of care for child for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.7.20 Primary carer for PLP - partner of birth mother or partner of initial primary carer adoptive parent, or the child's other legal parent or their partner Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.7.30 Primary carer for PLP - other carer of a child Clarified policy.
2.2.8 Person no longer primary carer - PLP remains payable Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.10 Who is a primary claimant for PLP? Updated policy.
2.2.10.10 Primary claimant for PLP - birth mother Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.10.20 Primary claimant for PLP - adoptive parent with initial primary care of adopted child Updated policy.
2.2.10.30 Primary claimant for PLP - partner either of birth mother or initial primary carer adoptive parent Updated policy.
2.2.10.40 Primary claimant for PLP - child's other legal parent or their partner Updated policy.
2.2.10.50 Primary claimant for PLP in exceptional circumstances - any other person Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.11 Who is a secondary claimant for PLP? Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.11.10 Secondary claimant for PLP in normal circumstances - partner of primary claimant birth mother or primary claimant adoptive parent or child's other legal parent or their partner Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.11.20 Secondary claimant for PLP in exceptional circumstances - any other person Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.12 Who is a tertiary claimant for PLP? Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.12.10 Tertiary claimant for PLP in exceptional circumstances Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.13 Return to work & when paid work is for a permissible purpose for PLP Updated policy.
2.3.2.10 When a person satisfies the work test for DAPP Updated policy.
2.3.2.20 Work test for DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.3.2.40 Activities considered as 'work' for DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.3.6 Not working & not on paid leave for DAPP Updated policy.
2.3.7 Who can claim DAPP Updated policy.
2.3.9 DAPP claim interactions with other PLP or DAPP claims Updated to reflect legislative change.
3 Rate calculation for PLP & DAPP Updated policy.
3.1 Current rates of PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
3.1.1 PLP - current rate Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.1 Effective claims for PLP (PPL period) Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.6 TFN statement for PLP claim Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.7 When to claim PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.10 Claims for PLP & SBP for the same child Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.11 Effective claims for PLP (flexible PPL) New page.
4.2.1.10 Centrelink claim determination role Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2.1.20 Centrelink provision of PLP to individuals Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2.2 PLP provided by employer Updated policy.
4.2.2.10 When are employers required to provide PLP? Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3 Instalments of PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.1 Instalments of PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.1.20 Amount of instalment of PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.1.30 Protection of instalment of PLP Updated policy.
4.3.2.37 Deductions relating to debt owed to the Commonwealth New page.
4.3.2.40 No other deductions from PLP Clarified policy.
4.3.3 Payment of instalments of PLP by employer Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.3.10 When an employer is required to pay an instalment of PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.4.20 Amount of PPL funding amount Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.4.30 Notice requirements relating to PPL funding amounts Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.5.20 Keeping records of PPL funding amounts received & PLP paid Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.5.30 Employer required to notify Centrelink if certain events happen in relation to PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.5.40 Employer obligations under industrial instruments or laws not affected by PPL scheme Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.6 Payment of instalments of PLP by Centrelink Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.6.15 Instalments relating to certain flexible PPL days New page.
4.3.6.20 Employer determination for PLP reviewed Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.6.30 Employer determination for PLP revoked Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.6.60 Record of payment of PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.7.10 Payment of arrears of PLP - employer determination reviewed or revoked before coming into force Clarified policy.
4.3.7.30 Payment of arrears of PLP - extending PPL period after review Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.8.10 Required to pay instalment of PLP after start of PPL period Clarified policy.
4.3.8.20 Extending PPL period after review Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.8.40 Effect of revocation of employer determination for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1 Employer determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1.1 Making employer determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1.2 Notice of employer determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1.7 When an employer determination for PLP is in force Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1.8 Revocation of an employer determination for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.1.9 Notice of employer decisions for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2 Initial eligibility & payability determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.1 Initial eligibility determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2 Payability determinations for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.10 Primary claimant's PPL period Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.20 Payability determination on primary claim for PLP made alone in relation to the maximum PPL period for a child Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.30 Payability determination on primary & secondary claims for PLP in relation to the maximum PPL period for a child made jointly - PPL period to be shared Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.40 Payability determination for primary & secondary claims for PLP in relation to the maximum PPL period for a child made jointly - secondary claimant to get all the PPL period Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.50 Payability determination where secondary claim for PLP in relation to the maximum PPL period for the child made after primary claim Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.60 Payability determination on tertiary claim for PLP in relation to the maximum PPL period for a child Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.2.2.70 When a payability determination for PLP cannot be made for a person's PPL period Updated policy.
6.2.2.80 General provisions for payability determinations for a PPL period Updated policy.
6.2.3 Payability determinations for flexible PPL New section.
7.1.1.20 Gathering information relating to tax file numbers Updated reflect agency name change.
7.3.1.10 Overpayments or mistaken payments of PLP instalments or DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
7.3.6.20 Waiver of debts - administrative error Updated example.
7.3.6.40 Waiver of small debts Updated to reflect legislative change.
8.1.4 When a decision made on review comes into force Updated to reflect legislative change.
8.2.1 AAT first review of claimant decisions Updated to reflect agency name change.
8.2.2 AAT first review of employer decisions Updated to reflect agency name change.
9.1.1 Adopted child Updated to reflect legislative change.
9.1.2 Claims for PLP in exceptional circumstances Updated to reflect legislative change.
9.1.3.10 PLP claim - child stillborn or dies Updated to reflect legislative change.
9.2.1 Payment nominees Updated to reflect agency name change.
9.2.4 Responsibilities of nominees Clarified policy.
9.3.1 General administration & delegation Clarified policy.
10 Transitional arrangements New page.

10 August 2020 (v1.63)

Page Title Details
1.1.C.20 Centrelink Updated department name.

1 July 2020 (v1.62)

Page Title Details
3.1.1 PLP - current rate Updated rates.
3.1.2 DAPP - current rate Updated rates.
3.2.1 PLP - historical rates Updated rates.
3.2.2 DAPP - historical rates Updated rates.

20 March 2020 (v1.61)

Page Title Details
1.2.2.20 PLP, DAPP & impacts on social security & other payments Updated to reflect introduction of jobseeker payment (JSP).
1.2.2.40 Other matters impacted by PLP or DAPP Updated to reflect introduction of JSP.

2 January 2020 (v1.60)

Page Title Details
1.1.P.130 Permissible break Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.W.30 Work test Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.1.W.40 Work test period Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.1.1 Eligibility differences between PLP & DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.10 When a person satisfies the work test for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.20 Work test for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.2.25 Hazardous jobs for PLP New page.
2.2.2.30 Premature birth & pregnancy-related complications or illness for PLP Updated examples.
2.2.2.50 Permissible break for PLP Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.3.2.50 Permissible break for DAPP Updated to reflect legislative change.