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.

8.1.3 Child stillborn or dies

Introduction

If a claim is made for PLP for a child, and, before or after the claim is made, the child is stillborn or dies, then a reference in the PPLAct (other than section 31AA and section 47) to a claimant caring for a child is taken to be a reference to a person who would have been caring for the child, had the child not been stillborn or died (section 277).

This means that a claim, including:

  • a claim where the birth mother would have, or has, relinquished the child, or
  • a claim made in exceptional circumstances under the PPL Rules

can be made by a claimant for a child who was stillborn or who has died, and the claimant can correctly establish eligibility.

Claimant eligibility - not exceptional circumstances

If the claim is made in ordinary circumstances, the claimant is eligible for PLP on a flexible PPL day in respect of a deceased or stillborn child on a day if on that day they meet all eligibility requirements, disregarding the requirement that they be caring for the child, and that they are to perform no more than one hour of paid work on a day. They must establish that they would have been caring for the child on that day had the child not been stillborn or died (PPLAct subsection 31AA(3)).

Claimant eligibility - exceptional circumstances

Where the claim is made in exceptional circumstances, the claimant must meet the eligibility requirements established by the PPLAct and PPL Rules for the type of claim.

Any reference to the claimant providing primary care under the PPL Rules should also be taken to be a reference to a person who would have been the child's primary carer in the exceptional circumstances, if the child had not been stillborn or died.

Birth mother eligibility - child to be relinquished but is stillborn or dies

The PPL Rules provide that where a child is stillborn or has died and, had the child not been stillborn or died, the birth mother would have relinquished her child:

  • for adoption
  • because of a surrogacy arrangement (1.1.S.100), or
  • because the child was removed from the person's care in accordance with a decision by a State or Territory court or child protection agency

the birth mother may be eligible for PLP on a flexible PPL day, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions other than those relating to caring for the child and performing no more than one hour of paid work.

The birth mother can only be eligible on a day within:

  • 20 weeks of the day the child was born, for children born on or after 1 July 2023
  • 22 weeks of the day the child was born, for children born on or after 1 July 2024
  • 24 weeks of the day the child was born, for children born on or after 1 July 2025
  • 26 weeks of the day the child was born, for children born on or after 1 July 2026.

Act reference: PPLAct section 31AA When a person is eligible for PLP on a flexible PPL day for a child, section 277 Caring for a child when a child is stillborn or dies

PPL Rules Part 2—Eligibility for PLP

Policy reference: PPL Guide 2.6.2 PPL claimant for PLP in exceptional circumstances - any other person, 2.7 Who is a special PPL claimant for PLP?

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