Parenting Payment Calculator (Australia)

PPS vs PPP — two different streams

Parenting Payment is paid in two distinct streams depending on whether you're single or partnered. The streams have different eligibility, rates, and means tests, so it's worth understanding which one applies.

• Parenting Payment Single (PPS) — for single parents / principal carers. Paid until the youngest child turns 14. Pension-style rate with Pension Supplement (basic) and a single-band 40c taper above the income free area.
• Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) — for partnered parents / principal carers. Paid until the youngest child turns 6. Allowance-style rate aligned with the JobSeeker principal-carer rate. Uses the JobSeeker two-band taper plus a partner income test.

Once your youngest child ages out of PP, you generally transition to JobSeeker Payment at the principal carer rate (higher than standard JobSeeker), subject to mutual obligation requirements.

Income test — PPS (single parents)

PPS uses a pension-style income test. You can earn up to the free area with no reduction; above that, your payment tapers at 40c per $1 of assessable income (pension taper).

• Income free area: $231.40 per fortnight
• Additional free area per extra child: $24.60 per fortnight
• Taper: 40 cents per $1 above the free area

Assessable income includes employment income, self-employment, rental, maintenance, and deemed income on financial assets (savings, shares, managed funds) at 1.25% below $64,200 and 3.25% above.

Income test — PPP (partnered parents)

PPP uses the allowance-style income test shared with JobSeeker:

• Free area: $150/fortnight
• Band 1 ($150–$256): 50c/$1 reduction
• Band 2 (>$256): 60c/$1 reduction
• Partner income test: above $1,124/fortnight, partner income reduces payment by 60c/$1

Assets test — hard cut-off

Parenting Payment uses a hard-cut-off assets test — above the threshold the payment drops to zero with no gradual taper. Your principal home is excluded from the test.

Deeming on financial assets

Financial assets — cash, term deposits, shares, managed funds, superannuation if accessible — are deemed to earn a regular return that counts as income, regardless of what they actually earn. This simplifies the income test but may overstate or understate actual investment income.

• Singles: first $64,200 at 1.25%, above at 3.25%
• Couples: first $106,200 combined at 1.25%, above at 3.25%

Related Centrelink calculators

Parenting Payment usually plays off against other family and working-age payments. These calculators cover the rest of the ecosystem:

• JobSeeker & Youth Allowance Calculator — what you'll transition to when your youngest child ages out of PP
• Carer Payment & Carer Allowance Calculator — if your child needs constant care, you may qualify for CP + CA on top
• Family Tax Benefit Calculator — FTB A & B for additional per-child support
• Child Care Subsidy Calculator — estimate your CCS percentage and out-of-pocket costs
• Age Pension Calculator — once you reach pension age

Frequently asked questions