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.

2.5.1 Caring for a child for PLP - adoptive parents

Adoptive parents

In the case of an adoption, the claimant must establish that the adoption occurred or is underway, and that they are, or will be, the adoptive parent of a child.

For adoptive parents to be eligible for PLP, the child must become entrusted to the care of the person by an authorised party as part of the process of adoption, and the child must be under 16 years of age at the time of placement with the adoptive parents.

Either adoptive parent, or the partner of an adoptive parent (where relevant) may claim PLP as a PPL claimant and receive PLP for the days they are caring for the child.

Eligible adoptive relationships do not include known adoptions (1.1.K.20), including step-child adoptions. These are situations where the child has lived continuously with the prospective adoptive parent prior to the date on which the process of adoption commenced and the adoption is more in the nature of formalising the parental relationship. In these cases, it would normally be expected that the child would not be regarded as being placed with the adoptive parent as part of the process of adoption, and hence such an adoptive parent would not be eligible.

Act reference: PPLAct section 47 When a person is caring for the child, section 54 Who can make a PPL claim or special PPL claim, section 275 How this Act applies to an adopted child

PPL Rules Part 2 Eligibility for PLP, Part 3 Claims for PLP

Policy reference: PPL Guide 2.1 PLP eligibility overview, 2.6 Who is a PPL claimant for PLP?, 8.1.1 Adopted child

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