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.

2.2.12 Who is a tertiary claimant for PLP?

Introduction

In most cases, an eligible primary carer of a child who is a PLP primary claimant will care for the child for the full 18 weeks of PLP. A primary claimant may be able to transfer all or part of their PPL period (the maximum PPL period (1.1.M.20)) to another person who has become the primary carer of the child, and give permission for another person to claim some or all of the flexible PPL days for the child. The new caregiver is a secondary claimant. In exceptional circumstances (1.1.E 100), a tertiary claimant (1.1.T.70) may make a claim for any remaining PLP for the child.

Claims from tertiary claimants are made in respect of highly unusual situations, generally where the secondary claimant is no longer caring for the child either because of incapacity or because the primary claimant was expected to be incapable of caring for the child for at least 26 weeks and that situation changes before the remaining PLP for the child has been paid to the secondary claimant. The tertiary claimant category ensures that the balance of PLP can be paid to a primary carer of the child in such exceptional circumstances.

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