2026–27 Paid Parental Leave rates and changes
What changes from 1 July 2026?
Paid Parental Leave changes in two ways from 1 July 2026.
First, the maximum entitlement increases for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026:
| Child born or adopted | Maximum PPL days | Equivalent weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 | 120 days | 24 weeks |
| From 1 July 2026 | 130 days | 26 weeks |
Second, the payment rate increases because Parental Leave Pay follows the National Minimum Wage.
| Rate | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate before tax | $189.62 | $200.98 |
| 5-day weekly rate before tax | $948.10 | $1,004.90 |
| Full entitlement before tax | $22,754.40 over 120 days | $26,127.40 over 130 days |
2026–27 Paid Parental Leave rate
The 2026–27 PPL rate is:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| National Minimum Wage hourly rate | $26.44 |
| Standard hours per day | 7.6 |
| PPL daily rate before tax | $200.98 |
| PPL 5-day weekly rate before tax | $1,004.90 |
| Full 130-day total before tax | $26,127.40 |
The daily rate is calculated as:
The 2026–27 rate is $11.36 more per day than the 2025–26 rate.
Quick examples
| Example | Gross PPL |
|---|---|
| 1 week / 5 days | $1,004.90 |
| 2 weeks / 10 days | $2,009.80 |
| 4 weeks / 20 days | $4,019.60 |
| 12 weeks / 60 days | $12,058.80 |
| 22 weeks / 110 days | $22,107.80 |
| 26 weeks / 130 days | $26,127.40 |
These amounts are before tax.
If your baby is born before 1 July 2026
The number of PPL days depends on your child's birth or adoption date.
If your baby is born in June 2026, your family does not get the new 130-day entitlement. The maximum remains 120 days.
But the payment rate depends on when each PPL day is taken.
That means a family with a baby born in June 2026 can still receive the new $200.98/day rate for PPL days taken from 1 July 2026.
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| Baby born 30 June 2026 | 120 days maximum |
| PPL day taken 30 June 2026 | $189.62 before tax |
| PPL day taken 1 July 2026 or later | $200.98 before tax |
If your baby is born from 1 July 2026
For a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, eligible families can get up to 130 days of Parental Leave Pay.
That is:
| Setting | 2026–27 position |
|---|---|
| Maximum days | 130 days |
| Equivalent weeks | 26 weeks |
| Daily rate before tax | $200.98 |
| Weekly rate before tax | $1,004.90 |
| Maximum gross total | $26,127.40 |
| Partner reserved days | 20 days, if there is another parent |
Partner reserved days
For couples, the 130 days are a family entitlement.
From 1 July 2026, 20 days are reserved for the other parent. These days generally cannot be transferred to the primary carer.
A common split is:
| Parent | Days | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Primary carer | 110 days | 22 weeks |
| Other parent | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| Total | 130 days | 26 weeks |
Parents can share the remaining days in different ways, depending on work, income and care arrangements.
Can PPL days include weekends?
Yes.
PPL days do not have to be Monday to Friday. You can nominate PPL days on weekdays, weekends, holidays or leave days, as long as you are caring for the child and not working on that day.
This matters because "26 weeks" is based on a 5-day week, but the actual entitlement is counted in days.
Claiming more days in a week gives you more income in that week, but it also uses your total PPL balance faster.
Read more: Paid Parental Leave and weekends
Is Paid Parental Leave taxable?
Yes.
Parental Leave Pay is taxable income.
If Services Australia pays it directly, tax may be withheld from the payment. If your employer delivers the payment, it is usually paid through payroll.
Tax withheld during the year may not match your final tax bill. Your final position depends on your total income, deductions, Medicare levy, HELP debt, offsets and any other taxable income.
Does Paid Parental Leave include super?
Yes, for eligible government-funded PPL.
Government-paid PPL super applies for children born or adopted from 1 July 2025.
The ATO pays a 12% superannuation contribution on eligible Parental Leave Pay. It is paid directly into your super fund after the end of the financial year.
This means it does not usually increase your weekly or fortnightly cashflow while you are on leave.
For the full 2026–27 entitlement:
| PPL used | Gross PPL | 12% super contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 120 days | $24,117.60 | $2,894.11 |
| 130 days | $26,127.40 | $3,135.29 |
How the CCSChecker PPL planner handles 2026–27
The PPL planner uses the confirmed 2026–27 rate of $200.98/day from 1 July 2026.
It also applies the correct entitlement length based on the child's birth or adoption date:
| Child born or adopted | Planner entitlement |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 2026 | Up to 120 days |
| From 1 July 2026 | Up to 130 days |
For babies born before 1 July 2026, the planner can still apply the new 2026–27 daily rate to PPL days taken from 1 July 2026.
The planner can help compare:
- employer paid parental leave
- government PPL
- partner PPL
- unpaid leave
- return-to-work timing
- childcare start dates
- household income during leave
- government PPL super
- childcare costs after returning to work
Why this matters for childcare planning
Paid Parental Leave is only one part of the year.
The timing of your leave can affect:
- household income while one parent is off work
- tax withheld during the year
- Family Tax Benefit estimates
- Child Care Subsidy income estimates
- when childcare starts
- whether an extra work day is worth it after childcare
- when your household cashflow returns to normal
The rate matters. The bigger question is usually what your family will actually have to live on across the year.
That is why the CCSChecker PPL planner links parental leave, income, tax and childcare planning in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Paid Parental Leave rate from 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, Paid Parental Leave is $200.98 per PPL day before tax, or $1,004.90 per 5-day week.
How much is 26 weeks of Paid Parental Leave in 2026–27?
The full 130-day entitlement is $26,127.40 before tax.
Is the 2026–27 PPL rate an estimate?
No.
The 2026–27 PPL rate is calculated from the official National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026. Parental Leave Pay is paid at the National Minimum Wage.
When does the 26-week entitlement start?
The 26-week / 130-day entitlement applies to children born or adopted from 1 July 2026.
What if my baby is born before 1 July 2026?
If your baby is born before 1 July 2026, your family gets the earlier entitlement length of up to 120 days.
But any PPL days taken from 1 July 2026 are paid at the 2026–27 rate.
What is the 2025–26 PPL rate?
The 2025–26 rate is $189.62 per day before tax, or $948.10 per 5-day week.
Over 120 days, the maximum gross total is $22,754.40.
What if I have a partner?
For couples, some days are reserved for the other parent.
From 1 July 2026, 20 days are reserved for the other parent. The remaining days can be shared between parents.
Can I take PPL on weekends?
Yes.
PPL days can include weekends, holidays and leave days, as long as you are caring for the child and not working on that day.
Can I take 7 PPL days in a week?
Yes, if you meet the rules for each nominated day.
You would use 7 of your total PPL days that week, so the payment would run out faster.
Does PPL include super?
Yes, for eligible government-funded PPL.
For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a 12% super contribution on eligible Parental Leave Pay. It is paid directly into your super fund after the relevant financial year.
2026–27 PPL summary
- The 2026–27 PPL rate is $200.98/day before tax
- The weekly equivalent is $1,004.90 per 5-day week
- Children born or adopted from 1 July 2026 can get up to 130 days / 26 weeks
- The full 130-day entitlement is $26,127.40 before tax
- For couples, 20 days are reserved for the other parent
- PPL days can include weekdays, weekends, holidays or leave days
- Government PPL super is paid separately by the ATO after the financial year
- Babies born before 1 July 2026 keep the 120-day entitlement, but PPL days taken from 1 July 2026 use the new rate
Planning leave and childcare together?
Use the CCSChecker PPL planner to model your parental leave income, tax and childcare costs using the confirmed 2026–27 PPL rate.
Plan your parental leave yearThis guide uses the confirmed 2026–27 National Minimum Wage announced by the Fair Work Commission. PPL amounts are before tax. For a formal calculation, contact Services Australia or visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/paidparentalleave.