2026–27 Paid Parental Leave rates and changes
Paid Parental Leave is changing from 1 July 2026.
For children born or adopted from 1 July 2026, eligible families can get up to 130 days of Parental Leave Pay. That is 26 weeks, based on a 5-day week. This is an increase from 120 days, or 24 weeks.
If you have a partner, 20 days are reserved for the other parent to use.
The extra days are confirmed. The 2026–27 dollar rate is still an estimate.
The current 2025–26 rate is $189.62 per day before tax, or $948.10 per 5-day week. Parental Leave Pay is based on the National Minimum Wage and usually changes on 1 July each year.
CCSChecker currently lets you compare 2025–26 and estimated 2026–27 settings in the PPL planner, so you can plan ahead before the official July rate is published. Once the official 2026–27 rate is published, we will update the planner and mark the rate as official.
Estimated 2026–27 Paid Parental Leave rate
The final 2026–27 Paid Parental Leave dollar rate will depend on the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review decision.
For planning purposes, CCSChecker currently uses a 4.25% planning estimate. This is based on an assumed increase to the National Minimum Wage, not an official Services Australia rate.
| Setting | 2025–26 current official rate | Estimated 2026–27 rate |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate before tax | $189.62 | about $197.68 |
| 5-day weekly rate before tax | $948.10 | about $988.40 |
| Maximum days | 120 days | 130 days |
| Maximum weeks | 24 weeks | 26 weeks |
| Maximum total before tax | $22,754.40 | about $25,698.40 |
How we estimated the 2026–27 rate
Parental Leave Pay is linked to the National Minimum Wage. It is not directly indexed to CPI.
To give families a useful planning figure, we applied a 4.25% assumed increase to the current 2025–26 PPL rate.
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Current weekly PPL rate | $948.10 |
| Assumed increase | 4.25% |
| Estimated weekly PPL rate | about $988.40 |
| Estimated daily PPL rate | about $197.68 |
| Estimated 130-day total | about $25,698.40 before tax |
A likely planning range is roughly $986 to $991 per week if the final National Minimum Wage increase lands between 4.0% and 4.5%.
The official rate will be updated after the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review decision.
What is confirmed for 2026–27
Some parts of the 2026–27 Paid Parental Leave change are already confirmed.
| Setting | 2026–27 position |
|---|---|
| Maximum days | 130 days ✓ confirmed |
| Equivalent weeks | 26 weeks, based on a 5-day week ✓ confirmed |
| Applies to | Children born or adopted from 1 July 2026 |
| Partner reserved days | 20 days if you have a partner |
| Taxable? | Yes |
| Super contribution? | Yes, for eligible government-funded PPL received from 1 July 2025 |
| Dollar rate | Estimated for now — official rate to come |
The most important confirmed change is the extra 10 days. Families with a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026 can get 130 days instead of 120 days.
What if I claim before 1 July 2026?
If you claim before July, your Centrelink account may initially show 120 days.
If your child is born or adopted from 1 July 2026, Services Australia says the extra 10 days will be added after proof of birth or adoption is confirmed. You do not need to make a new claim just to get the extra 10 days.
This matters if your baby is due around the start of July. Your claim may look like it only has 120 days at first, even though the 130-day entitlement applies once the birth or adoption details are confirmed.
When will the official 2026–27 PPL rate update?
The official 2026–27 Parental Leave Pay rate should be known after the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review decision.
CCSChecker will update this page and the PPL planner when the official rate is published. Until then, the 2026–27 dollar rate shown here is an estimate for planning only.
How the CCSChecker PPL planner handles 2026–27
The PPL planner lets you switch between 2025–26 and estimated 2026–27 settings.
That means you can compare:
- the current 2025–26 official PPL rate and 24-week entitlement
- the estimated 2026–27 PPL rate and confirmed 26-week entitlement
This is useful if your baby is due around July, or if you are planning leave, income and childcare across the new financial year.
For 2025–26, the planner uses current official settings.
For 2026–27, the planner currently uses:
- 130 days of Parental Leave Pay for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026
- an estimated PPL rate of about $197.68 per day, or $988.40 per 5-day week, before tax
- the relevant 2026–27 resident tax rates
- estimated 2026–27 CCS settings where shown for planning
The 2026–27 figures are clearly labelled as estimates where the official rates are not yet published. Once official 2026–27 PPL and CCS figures are published, CCSChecker will update the planner and mark those rates as official.
Why show estimates now? Because planning a leave year with old rates can be misleading. Families planning across July need a realistic forward estimate, not a result based only on rates that end on 30 June.
Why Paid Parental Leave matters for childcare planning
Paid Parental Leave is not just a leave payment. It can affect the whole year.
It may change:
- how much income your household receives while one parent is off work
- your tax position
- your Family Tax Benefit estimate
- when you start childcare
- when you return to work
- your Child Care Subsidy income estimate
- whether an extra work day is worth it after childcare
The PPL rate matters, but the bigger question is often: what will your family actually have to live on across the year? That is why CCSChecker links PPL, tax and childcare planning together.
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. But tax withheld is not always the same as your final tax. Your final tax depends on your total income, deductions, offsets, Medicare levy, HELP debt and ATO assessment.
Does Paid Parental Leave include super?
Yes, for eligible families.
For eligible government-funded Parental Leave Pay received from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a superannuation contribution to your super fund after the end of the financial year.
This is separate from the PPL amount paid to you during the year. It does not usually increase your fortnightly or weekly cashflow while you are on leave.
Can I choose when to take Paid Parental Leave?
Yes, within the rules.
You do not have to take all your PPL in one block. Paid Parental Leave can be planned flexibly, as long as you meet the rules and use the days within the required period.
This is where planning matters. The timing of your PPL days can affect:
- which financial year the payment falls into
- your tax position
- your household cashflow
- when childcare starts
- when your CCS estimate needs to change
Frequently asked questions
Is the 26-week entitlement confirmed?
Yes. The 130-day (26-week) entitlement for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026 is confirmed legislation. The dollar rate is still an estimate pending the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review.
What is the current 2025–26 PPL rate?
The current 2025–26 rate is $189.62 per day before tax, or $948.10 per 5-day week before tax. Over 120 days, the gross total is $22,754.40.
What is the estimated 2026–27 PPL rate?
CCSChecker currently estimates about $197.68 per day, or $988.40 per week, before tax. This uses a 4.25% assumed NMW increase. The official rate will be confirmed after the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review.
When does the 26-week entitlement start?
From 1 July 2026, for children born or adopted on or after that date.
What if I have a partner?
For couples, 20 days are reserved for the other parent. These are use-it-or-lose-it days and cannot be transferred. The remaining 110 days (22 weeks) can be allocated flexibly between both parents.
Will the PPL rate change on 1 July 2026?
Yes, it is expected to increase in line with the National Minimum Wage decision from the Fair Work Commission. The exact amount is not yet confirmed. CCSChecker will update the planner when the official figure is available.
2026–27 PPL summary
- Paid Parental Leave increases to 130 days (26 weeks) for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026 — confirmed
- 20 days are reserved for the other parent if you have a partner
- The current 2025–26 rate is $189.62 per day, or $948.10 per week, before tax
- CCSChecker's estimated 2026–27 rate is about $197.68 per day, or $988.40 per week, before tax
- The estimated maximum 130-day total is about $25,698.40 before tax
- The estimate uses a 4.25% assumed increase to the current PPL rate
- The final dollar rate depends on the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review decision
- The PPL planner lets you compare 2025–26 official settings with estimated 2026–27 planning settings
- Once confirmed, CCSChecker will update the guide and planner to use the official rate
Planning leave and childcare together?
Use the CCSChecker PPL planner to compare 2025–26 and estimated 2026–27 settings, including parental leave, tax and childcare costs.
Plan your parental leave yearThis guide uses estimated 2026–27 figures based on an assumed National Minimum Wage increase. The 2025–26 rate is the current official rate. Exact 2026–27 amounts are set by Services Australia following the Fair Work Commission decision. For a formal calculation, contact Services Australia at 136 150 or visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/paidparentalleave.
Related guides
- How Much Paid Parental Leave Will I Get in Australia?
- Who Is Eligible for Paid Parental Leave in Australia?
- Estimated 2026–27 CCS Rates and Hourly Caps
- How Parental Leave Pay Affects Your FTB at Balancing
- Going Back to Work After Parental Leave: What Childcare Will Really Cost
- CCS and Parental Leave: What Changes and Why