Update on Paid Parental Leave for Fathers: Dad & Partner Pay

The Federal Parliament has passed legislation that will provide two weeks paternity leave for new fathers. The Paid Parental Leave and Other Legislation Amendment (Dad and Partner Pay and Other Measures) Bill 2012 expands the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme, with Dad and Partner Pay - a dedicated payment to give dads and partners financial support to stay at home for two weeks with their new baby. The payment equates to two weeks on the minimum wage.

This will be in effect from  1 January next year.

The government department for Families released a statement saying:

We understand that having a baby is a big moment in a family’s life, and we want both mum and dad to have support to take time off to bond with their new baby.

We also know that having a baby puts financial strain on a family’s budget. That’s why we are making sure that mums and dads have access to financial support in those first important months of their baby’s life.

With more assistance to take time off work when a new baby joins the family, dads will be able to support mums and be involved in the care of their baby right from the start.

This is good for dads, it’s good for mums, and it helps give babies the best start in life.

It will be available to full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal, contract and self-employed workers who have worked at least 330 hours (just over one day a week) in 10 of the 13 months before the birth of their baby and who earnt $150,000 or less in the previous financial year.

To receive Dad and Partner Pay a person must be on unpaid leave or not working for that period.

A family will be able to receive Dad and Partner Pay either on its own or in addition to Paid Parental Leave or other family payments such as the Baby Bonus and Family Tax Benefit.

Follow our blog as we do the digging for you and explore the pros and cons, comparing the Baby Bonus to Paid Parental Leave.

Published by: www.mumsatwork.com.au