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.

2.1.2 Payability differences between PLP & DAPP

Birth verification

To be payable for PLP, a primary claimant must verify the child's birth (1.1.V.10) or provide proof of the child's entry into care.

To be payable for DAPP, either the claimant or another person must verify the child's birth or provide proof of the child's entry into care. The other person could be the claimant of PLP or a family assistance payment for the child.

Act reference: PPLAct section 18 The child's birth has not been verified, section 115BC The child's birth has not been verified

DOB or adoption

PLP is payable for children born or adopted from 1 January 2011. Flexible PPL is payable for children born or adopted on or after 1 July 2020.

DAPP is payable for children born or adopted from 1 January 2013.

Act reference: PPLAct section 19 The child was born before 1 January 2011, section 115BD The child was born before 1 January 2013, section 275 How this Act applies to an adopted child

Length of payment

PLP consists of 2 components:

  • The first component is a PPL period of up to 12 weeks which must be claimed and taken before the child's first birthday or anniversary of adoption (this consists of 84 continuous days of which 60 week days are payable).
  • The second component is up to 30 flexible PPL days which can be taken (including weekends) after the end of the PPL period and before the child's second birthday or anniversary of adoption.

The combination of the 2 components of PLP can be taken for a maximum period of up to 18 weeks (90 payable days). Flexible PPL days can be:

  • connected to the end of the PPL period as a block of up to 30 payable days
  • taken on any day between the end of the PPL period and the child's second birthday or second anniversary of adoption, or
  • a combination of the 2 options.

DAPP is payable for a maximum period of 2 weeks (10 week days payable).

Note: A person may only receive a maximum period of 18 weeks (90 payable days) for a child under the PPL scheme. This could be a combination of a PPL period, flexible PPL days and a DAPP period. For example, where eligible, a person may have a 10-week PPL period (50 payable days) and 30 flexible PPL days transferred from their partner, and they may also receive 2 weeks of DAPP (10 payable days). Alternatively, they may have a 12-week PPL period (60 payable days), 25 flexible days and one week of DAPP (5 payable days). However, a person cannot have a 12-week PPL period (60 payable days), 30 flexible PPL days and 2 weeks of DAPP (10 payable days) as this exceeds a maximum period of 90 payable days.

A family can receive a maximum period of 20 weeks (100 payable days) for a child under the PPL scheme. For example, where eligible, a mother could receive a 12-week PPL period and 30 flexible PPL days and the father could receive 2 weeks of DAPP.

Act reference: PPLAct Part 2-2 Division 2 Determinations about whether PLP is payable to a person for a period, Part 2-2 Division 2A Determination about whether PLP for a flexible PPL day is payable to a person, section 31 When a person is eligible for PLP on a day other than a flexible PPL day for a child, section 31AB When a person is not eligible for PLP on a flexible PPL day for a child, Part 3A-2 Division 2 Determinations about whether DAPP is payable to a person

Policy reference: PPL Guide 2.2.1.10 PLP core eligibility requirements, 2.3.1 DAPP eligibility overview, 6.2.2 Payability determinations for PLP, 6.3.2 Payability determinations for DAPP

PLP & DAPP for the same child

PLP and DAPP cannot be paid to the same person at the same time for the same child, but can be paid at the same time for different children.

DAPP may be payable to a person whether or not the person may have received PLP for the child.

PLP is not payable to a person for a child if the person has been paid PLP for the child under a different claim.

PLP is not payable to a primary claimant in normal circumstances if their partner, or former partner when they were a couple, has been paid PLP for the child.

PLP is not payable to a secondary claimant in normal circumstances if their partner, or former partner when they were a couple, has been paid PLP for the child, unless they were the primary claimant to which the secondary claim relates.

Act reference: PPLAct section 21 PLP is already payable to the person etc.

PPL Rules

Policy reference: PPL Guide 6.2.2 Payability determinations for PLP, 6.2.3 Payability determination for flexible PPL, 6.3.2 Payability determinations for DAPP

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