Happy Fathers Day

Australian dads have something extra to look forward to this Fathers’ Day, with just one month to go before first claims for Dad and Partner Pay can be lodged.

Applications open on 1 October for the Australian Government’s new support for new dads.

Dads and partners, including same-sex couples, will receive two weeks’ pay at the rate of the National Minimum Wage (about $606 per week before tax) from 1 January next year, giving them extra support when their new baby arrives.

The Government’s scheme will help dads or partners take time more off in those critical early weeks to bond with their baby and support mums right from the start.

Dad and Partner Pay will give workers who are self-employed, contractors and casual and who don’t have paid parental leave entitlements, the financial security to stay at home with mum and baby.

To be eligible, dads or partners must:

• be on unpaid leave or not working and be helping to care for the child during the two weeks;
• have worked at least 330 hours (just over one day a week) in 10 of the 13 months before the start of their Dad and Partner Pay period, with no more than an eight-week gap between two consecutive working days; and
• have earned $150,000 or less in the previous financial year.

Dad and Partner Pay builds on Labor’s successful Paid Parental Leave scheme that has been supporting Australian mums since January 2011.

Australian mums love our Paid Parental Leave Scheme – more than 206,000 parents have applied since it began.

Dads or partners can lodge their claims for Dad and Partner Pay up to three months before the expected date of birth or adoption, to prepare for the arrival of the new addition to their family.

For more information go to: www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/dad-and-partner-pay or call 13 61 50.