Parenting Payment Calculator — Single and Partnered
Parenting Payment Single is $1,068.20 a fortnight ($1,037.50 plus a $30.70 Pension Supplement) and Parenting Payment Partnered is $755.10, from 20 September 2026. Enter what you earn to see how much you keep: single parents lose 40 cents per dollar over $232.60 a fortnight.
Rates from 20 September 2026 · verified 23 September 2026
How Much Parenting Payment Do You Keep?
How the income test applied
What to check next
People reading this page usually work these out too.
- Centrelink Income TestHow free areas, tapers and cut-offs reduce a payment.
- JobSeeker Payment CalculatorWhat you keep of JobSeeker when you work part-time.
- Austudy & Youth Allowance CalculatorThe student income test with current rates.
- Working Credit CalculatorHow unused free area banks up and shields future earnings.
Parenting Payment Rates From 20 September 2026
| Your situation | Maximum per fortnight | Payment reaches $0 at |
|---|---|---|
| Single — $1,037.50 + $30.70 Pension Supplement | $1,068.20 | $2,950.60 (1 child), +$24.60 per extra child |
| Partnered — partner doesn't get a pension | $755.10 | $1,439.34 of your own income |
| Partnered — partner gets a pension | $755.10 | $2,878.68 combined |
Maximum rates are indexed on 20 March and 20 September; the next change is 20 March 2027. Energy Supplement is paid on top. Different rates apply to a partnered parent separated by illness, respite care or prison, and to parents over Age Pension age — check with Services Australia.
The Parenting Payment Income Test
Single: 40 cents per dollar over the free area
| Children | Income before the payment reduces | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $232.60 | $2,950.60 |
| 2 | $257.20 | $2,975.20 |
| 3 | $281.80 | $2,999.80 |
| 4 | $306.40 | $3,024.40 |
The single free area indexes on 1 July; the 40-cent taper is set in law. Because the taper is gentler than the 50 and 60 cents on JobSeeker, a single parent keeps 60 cents of every extra dollar earned until the payment runs out.
Partnered: your income and your partner's
Your own income is tested like JobSeeker — nothing up to $150 a fortnight, 50 cents per dollar to $256, then $53 plus 60 cents per dollar above. Your partner's income is tested separately: 60 cents per dollar over $1,440.00 a fortnight. If your partner gets a pension, the two incomes are combined instead — 25 cents per dollar from $300 to $512, then $53 plus 30 cents per dollar.
How Extra Hours Change Your Payment
A single parent with one child, paid $30 an hour. Each row adds 10 hours a fortnight:
| Hours a fortnight | Wages | Parenting Payment | Wages + payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0 | $1,068.20 | $1,068.20 |
| 10 | $300 | $1,041.24 | $1,341.24 |
| 20 | $600 | $921.24 | $1,521.24 |
| 30 | $900 | $801.24 | $1,701.24 |
| 40 | $1,200 | $681.24 | $1,881.24 |
| 50 | $1,500 | $561.24 | $2,061.24 |
| 60 | $1,800 | $441.24 | $2,241.24 |
Each 10 extra hours adds $300 of wages but only $180 to your fortnight once you are past the free area — before tax. Parenting Payment is taxable, so run wages and payment together through the take-home pay calculator, and use the work hours calculator to turn a roster into fortnightly hours.
Parenting Payment at Different Incomes (Single, One Child)
| Fortnightly wages | Reduction | Parenting Payment | Wages + payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $0.00 | $1,068.20 | $1,068.20 |
| $250 | -$6.96 | $1,061.24 | $1,311.24 |
| $500 | -$106.96 | $961.24 | $1,461.24 |
| $750 | -$206.96 | $861.24 | $1,611.24 |
| $1,000 | -$306.96 | $761.24 | $1,761.24 |
| $1,250 | -$406.96 | $661.24 | $1,911.24 |
| $1,500 | -$506.96 | $561.24 | $2,061.24 |
| $1,750 | -$606.96 | $461.24 | $2,211.24 |
| $2,000 | -$706.96 | $361.24 | $2,361.24 |
| $2,500 | -$906.96 | $161.24 | $2,661.24 |
| $2,900 | -$1,066.96 | $1.24 | $2,901.24 |
Who Can Get Parenting Payment
- Single: you are the principal carer of a child under 14. Mutual obligation requirements start when your youngest child turns 6.
- Partnered: you are the principal carer of a child under 6.
- You meet the residence rules, and you are under the income limits and the assets test — $333,000 for a single homeowner, $600,000 for a single non-homeowner ($499,000 / $766,000 for a couple, combined).
- Only one parent or carer can be paid, and you can't claim before the child is born.
Parenting Payment is separate from Family Tax Benefit, which is paid for each child on your family's yearly income, and from Parental Leave Pay. If you rent privately, you may also get Rent Assistance. When your youngest turns 14, most single parents move to JobSeeker.
Related Calculators and Guides
- Centrelink income test guide — how the free area, taper and cut-off work for every payment
- JobSeeker payment calculator — what you keep when you work part-time
- Family Tax Benefit calculator — FTB Part A and Part B on your family income
- Rent Assistance calculator — 75c for each dollar of rent over the threshold
- Austudy and Youth Allowance calculator — the $539 free area and the 50c/60c bands
- Age Pension income test calculator — with the Work Bonus applied
- Take-home pay calculator — tax on your wages and payment together
- Fortnightly pay calculator — convert your wage to the fortnightly gross Centrelink asks for
How this calculator works▼
- Single: payment = $1,068.20 − 40c × (income − free area), where the free area is $232.60 for one child plus $24.60 per extra child. Floored at $0.
- Partnered (partner not on a pension): $755.10 − (50c × own income from $150 to $256 + 60c × own income over $256) − 60c × partner income over $1,440.00. Partner on a pension: $755.10 − (25c × combined income from $300 to $512 + 30c × combined income over $512).
- The published cut-offs include Energy Supplement and (for single parents) Pharmaceutical Allowance; our tests rebuild each one from the stored rate and taper to within 2 cents.
- Figures read at Services Australia on 23 September 2026. Pay Calculator Australia is not Services Australia — use their Payment Finder for a claim estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parenting Payment questions and answers
How much is Parenting Payment Single?
From 20 September 2026 the maximum Parenting Payment Single is $1,037.50 a fortnight plus a Pension Supplement of $30.70 — $1,068.20 in total, before any reduction for income. Energy Supplement is paid on top, and you may also get Rent Assistance and Family Tax Benefit.
How much is Parenting Payment Partnered?
$755.10 a fortnight from 20 September 2026, the same as JobSeeker for a member of a couple. It reduces with your own income over $150 a fortnight and with your partner's income over $1,440.00 (if they don't get a pension).
How much can I earn on Parenting Payment Single?
With one child you can earn $232.60 a fortnight before your payment reduces, plus $24.60 for each extra child ($257.20 with two, $281.80 with three). Above that it reduces by 40 cents for each dollar. The cut-off is $2,950.60 a fortnight with one child, and $2,975.20 with two.
If I earn $1,000 a fortnight, how much Parenting Payment Single do I keep?
With one child: $767.40 is over the free area, so the payment reduces by $306.96 to $761.24. Your wages are on top, so you have $1,761.24 before tax. Every extra dollar you earn over the free area leaves you 60 cents better off.
How does my partner's income affect Parenting Payment Partnered?
If your partner doesn't get a pension, your payment reduces by 60 cents for each dollar they earn over $1,440.00 a fortnight. For example, if your partner earns $1,800 and you earn nothing, you would get $539.10. If your partner gets a pension, your incomes are combined instead: 25 cents per dollar over $300, then $53 plus 30 cents per dollar over $512.
Who can get Parenting Payment?
Single parents who are the principal carer of a child under 14, and partnered parents who are the principal carer of a child under 6. You also need to meet the residence rules and the income and assets tests. Single parents have mutual obligation requirements once their youngest child turns 6.
What happens when my youngest child turns 14?
Parenting Payment Single stops when your youngest child turns 14 (6 if you're partnered). Most parents then move to JobSeeker Payment, which has a lower maximum rate but, for a single principal carer of a child under 16, the same 40-cent taper over $150 a fortnight.
Is Parenting Payment taxable?
Yes. Parenting Payment is a taxable Centrelink payment, so it counts with your wages at tax time. You can ask Services Australia to withhold tax from it. Family Tax Benefit is not taxable.
What is the Parenting Payment assets limit?
Your payment stops when assets exceed $333,000 for a single homeowner or $600,000 for a single non-homeowner ($499,000 and $766,000 for a couple, combined). Your home is not counted.
From 20 September 2026 the maximum Parenting Payment Single is $1,037.50 a fortnight plus a Pension Supplement of $30.70 — $1,068.20 in total, before any reduction for income. Energy Supplement is paid on top, and you may also get Rent Assistance and Family Tax Benefit.
$755.10 a fortnight from 20 September 2026, the same as JobSeeker for a member of a couple. It reduces with your own income over $150 a fortnight and with your partner's income over $1,440.00 (if they don't get a pension).
With one child you can earn $232.60 a fortnight before your payment reduces, plus $24.60 for each extra child ($257.20 with two, $281.80 with three). Above that it reduces by 40 cents for each dollar. The cut-off is $2,950.60 a fortnight with one child, and $2,975.20 with two.
With one child: $767.40 is over the free area, so the payment reduces by $306.96 to $761.24. Your wages are on top, so you have $1,761.24 before tax. Every extra dollar you earn over the free area leaves you 60 cents better off.
If your partner doesn't get a pension, your payment reduces by 60 cents for each dollar they earn over $1,440.00 a fortnight. For example, if your partner earns $1,800 and you earn nothing, you would get $539.10. If your partner gets a pension, your incomes are combined instead: 25 cents per dollar over $300, then $53 plus 30 cents per dollar over $512.
Single parents who are the principal carer of a child under 14, and partnered parents who are the principal carer of a child under 6. You also need to meet the residence rules and the income and assets tests. Single parents have mutual obligation requirements once their youngest child turns 6.
Parenting Payment Single stops when your youngest child turns 14 (6 if you're partnered). Most parents then move to JobSeeker Payment, which has a lower maximum rate but, for a single principal carer of a child under 16, the same 40-cent taper over $150 a fortnight.
Yes. Parenting Payment is a taxable Centrelink payment, so it counts with your wages at tax time. You can ask Services Australia to withhold tax from it. Family Tax Benefit is not taxable.
Your payment stops when assets exceed $333,000 for a single homeowner or $600,000 for a single non-homeowner ($499,000 and $766,000 for a couple, combined). Your home is not counted.
Sources & References
- 1How much Parenting Payment you can get— Services Australia
- 2Income and assets tests for Parenting Payment— Services Australia
- 3Who can get Parenting Payment— Services Australia
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
Areas of Expertise
What to check next
People reading this page usually work these out too.
- Centrelink Income TestHow free areas, tapers and cut-offs reduce a payment.
- JobSeeker Payment CalculatorWhat you keep of JobSeeker when you work part-time.
- Austudy & Youth Allowance CalculatorThe student income test with current rates.
- Working Credit CalculatorHow unused free area banks up and shields future earnings.