Parenting Payment: Single vs Partnered, Rates and How to Claim
Single or partnered? A plain-English guide to Parenting Payment in Australia for 2025-26: rates, income and assets tests, the age cutoffs, and how to claim.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 10 min read
Parenting Payment is Centrelink's main income support for the principal carer of a young child. If you are raising kids in Australia and your income and assets are below the thresholds, there is a real chance you qualify, and it is worth knowing the detail, because the two streams work quite differently.
This guide covers both Parenting Payment Single and Parenting Payment Partnered: the 2025-26 rates, the income and assets tests, what you have to do and when, and how to actually claim. General information only, not advice, and rates are indexed twice a year so confirm the current figures with Services Australia.
🎯 The essential: There are two streams. Single (for sole parents) pays up to $1,047.30 a fortnight and runs until your youngest turns 14. Partnered pays up to $740.30 and ends when your youngest turns 6, after which you generally move to JobSeeker. Both are income and assets tested and both are taxable. You can receive Parenting Payment alongside Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy.
What Parenting Payment is
Parenting Payment is a fortnightly payment for the principal carer of a dependent child, the person most responsible for day-to-day care. It is not one-size-fits-all: there are two streams based on your relationship status, with different rates, age cutoffs and rules. The single stream is paid at a pension-style rate and is more generous, reflecting that solo parents carry the full load without a second income.
Single vs Partnered: the key differences
| Single | Partnered | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Sole parents | Parents in a couple |
| Youngest child cutoff | Under 14 | Under 6 |
| Max per fortnight | $1,047.30 | $740.30 |
| Assets: homeowner | $333,000 | $499,000 combined |
| Mutual obligations | From age 6 (approx 15 hrs/wk) | Generally none |
How much Parenting Payment pays
Single: a base of $1,017.20 plus a $30.10 pension supplement, so $1,047.30 a fortnight, plus a $12.00 energy supplement if eligible. It is paid at the pension rate, not the lower allowance rate. Partnered: up to $740.30 a fortnight, plus a $7.90 energy supplement if eligible, lower because the household is assumed to have a second income. Rates are indexed in March and September, so always check the current figure.
The income test: how much can you earn?
Single: you can earn up to $224.60 a fortnight (one child, plus $24.60 per extra child) before the payment reduces, then it drops by 40 cents per dollar, cutting out around $2,898 a fortnight. So a single parent of two earning $300 a fortnight loses only about $20, still well worth claiming.
Partnered: your income and your partner's are assessed separately. Your first $150 is free, then 50 cents per dollar to $256 and 60 cents above; your partner's income reduces the payment by 60 cents per dollar above $1,415 a fortnight. Family Tax Benefit does not count as income here.
The assets test
The assets test is a hard cut-off, not a taper: over the limit and the payment stops. Your family home is exempt. Countable assets include savings, shares, vehicles and investment property.
| Homeowner | Non-homeowner | |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $333,000 | $600,000 |
| Partnered (combined) | $499,000 | $766,000 |
When Parenting Payment stops
Single stops when your youngest turns 14; Partnered stops at 6. At that point you generally move to JobSeeker Payment. Centrelink will contact you, but do not wait for the letter: check your options a few months out so support does not lapse. If you have more than one child, the clock always runs to your youngest.
With Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
Good news: you can get all three at once. They are separate payments with separate income tests, so Parenting Payment does not disqualify you from Family Tax Benefit or the Child Care Subsidy. Many families leave money on the table simply by not claiming everything they are entitled to, so check all three through myGov.
How to claim, and a note on tax
Claim online through myGov linked to Centrelink: create the account, link Centrelink, then make a claim for Parenting Payment. You will need proof of identity, your child's birth certificate, relationship details, and income and asset information. Once approved, payment is backdated to your claim date, not the approval date, so claim as soon as you are eligible.
Both streams are taxable. If you have other income, set up voluntary tax withholding through Centrelink so you are not caught out at tax time.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Parenting Payment Single and Partnered?
+
Parenting Payment Single is for sole parents and pays up to $1,047.30 a fortnight, running until your youngest child turns 14. Parenting Payment Partnered is for parents in a couple and pays up to $740.30 a fortnight, ending when your youngest turns 6. The single stream is higher because it is paid at the pension rate.
How much is Parenting Payment in 2025-26?
+
From 20 March 2026, the maximum is $1,047.30 a fortnight for single parents (base $1,017.20 plus pension supplement $30.10) and $740.30 for partnered parents. An energy supplement may also apply. Rates are indexed in March and September, so check Services Australia.
Can I get Parenting Payment and Family Tax Benefit at the same time?
+
Yes. Parenting Payment, Family Tax Benefit (Part A and Part B) and Child Care Subsidy are separate payments with separate income tests. Getting one does not disqualify you from the others, so check your eligibility for all three.
What happens when my youngest child turns 6 or 14?
+
Parenting Payment Partnered stops when your youngest turns 6; Parenting Payment Single stops at 14. In both cases you generally move to JobSeeker Payment. Centrelink will contact you, but it is worth checking your options a few months before the cutoff so there is no gap.
Do I have to look for work to get Parenting Payment?
+
For Parenting Payment Single there are no requirements while your youngest is under 6. From age 6 you meet mutual obligations of around 15 hours a week of approved activity (work, study or a combination). Partnered recipients generally have no obligations. Exemptions exist for illness, family violence and other circumstances. Note the ParentsNext program closed on 1 July 2024.
Is Parenting Payment taxable?
+
Yes. Both streams are taxable income you must declare in your tax return. Centrelink gives you an income statement that pre-fills in myTax. If you have other income, consider voluntary tax withholding through Centrelink to avoid a bill at tax time.
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Sources
This article is general information only, not financial or legal advice. Parenting Payment rates, thresholds and rules are set by Services Australia and change with indexation. Check Services Australia or a financial counsellor for your situation.
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General information only. This article is educational and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not account for your circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a licensed adviser before acting. Read our full disclaimer.
Timothy Hirou Gaschereau
Founder of Snowball Invest, not a financial adviser.
I write about what I'm learning myself, because nobody ever taught us how to take control of our own money. It's a skill, not a mystery, and it's never too late to learn it. The best day to start was yesterday, the second best is today.
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