$987.70 Payment + $28.30 Pension Supplement 2024: Know Dates & Eligibility Criteria

Australia’s Centrelink provides important financial help to parents through the Parenting Payment program.

This payment supports families with the costs of raising a child, including food, clothing, education, and other essentials.

The Parenting Payment offers a base amount of $987.70 plus an additional Pension Supplement of $28.30 for those who qualify.

Here’s what you need to know about who can apply, how to apply, and when payments are made.

Eligibility for the $987.70 Payment + $28.30 Pension Supplement

To qualify for the Parenting Payment, you need to meet these requirements set by Centrelink:

Primary Carer Requirement:

• You must be the main person caring for a child.
• Single parents need to have a child under 8 years old.
• Parents with a partner need to have a child under 6 years old.

Residency Status:

• You must be an Australian resident and be in Australia when you apply.

Income and Asset Tests:

• These tests make sure payments go to families who need them. For example, single homeowners can have assets up to $314,000. Income limits depend on your family situation.

Other Payments:

• You can’t receive other payments like Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, or Austudy at the same time.

Ongoing Residency:

• You need to stay a resident of Australia to keep getting payments.

How to Claim the Parenting Payment

Claiming the Parenting Payment is easy and can be done online. Here’s how:

1. Create a myGov Account:
   • Sign in or make a new myGov account and link it to Centrelink.
2. Verify Your Identity:
   • Use documents like your passport or driver’s license to confirm your identity on the myGov portal.
3. Submit Your Claim:
   • Log in to Centrelink through myGov and select “Make a claim or view claim status.” Then, choose “Apply for Parenting Payment.”
4. Provide Additional Documents:
   • You might need to send extra documents based on your situation. Have all necessary paperwork ready before you apply.
5. Application Review:
   • Centrelink will review your claim and let you know the result or if more steps are needed.

Payment Amounts and Dates

The amount you get from the Parenting Payment depends on whether you are single or in a relationship:

• Single Parents: You can receive up to $987.70 every two weeks. This amount includes a $28.30 Pension Supplement.
• Partnered Parents: You can receive up to $698.30 every two weeks.
• Separated Partners: If you are separated from your partner because of illness or incarceration, you could receive up to $816.90 every two weeks.

Payment Schedule

Parenting payments are given out every two weeks. They are adjusted twice a year, usually around March 20 and September 20, to reflect changes in inflation and the economy.

Income and Asset Testing:

• Single Parents: They can earn up to a certain limit before their payment starts to decrease. For every dollar earned over this limit, their payment drops by 40%.
• Partnered Parents: The income limit depends on the total earnings of both partners.

Assets, such as property (not including the family home), can affect how much you get. For example, single homeowners with assets over $314,000 might have their payments reduced or stopped.

The Parenting Payment, which includes a $987.70 base amount and a $28.30 Pension Supplement, is a helpful support for eligible Australian families.

To stay updated and manage your finances better, regularly check the official Service Australia website or talk to a financial advisor.