Parenting Payment Single vs Partnered 2026: Rates & Eligibility

Compare Parenting Payment Single and Partnered rates for March 2026. See income limits, eligibility ages, and which one applies to you.

	Parenting Payment Single	Parenting Payment Partnered
Fortnightly Rate	$987.70/fn	$616.30/fn
Who Is It For	Single parents or carers who are the principal carer of a child under 14.	Partnered parents or carers who are the principal carer of a child under 6.
Age Requirement	Must have a child under 14 in your care. Payment stops when youngest child turns 14.	Must have a child under 6 in your care. Payment stops when youngest child turns 6.
Income Test	$202.60/fn free area, then 40c/$1 reduction above that. Cuts out at around $2,672/fn.	$150/fn free area, then 50c/$1 up to $256, then 60c/$1. Partner income over $1,124/fn reduces by 60c/$1.
Assets Test	Homeowner: $301,750. Non-homeowner: $543,750.	Couple homeowner: $451,500 (combined). Couple non-homeowner: $693,500 (combined).
Work Requirement	Mutual obligation requirements apply once youngest child turns 6 — must look for 15 hours/week of work.	Mutual obligation requirements apply once youngest child turns 6 months — must look for 15 hours/week of work.
Extras & Supplements	Energy Supplement $14.10/fn. Pension Supplement $81.60/fn. Pensioner Concession Card. Higher rate than most other working-age payments.	Energy Supplement $12.80/fn. Health Care Card (not Pensioner Concession Card). Significantly lower rate than PPS.

Parenting Payment Single

Fortnightly Rate: $987.70/fn
Who Is It For: Single parents or carers who are the principal carer of a child under 14.
Age Requirement: Must have a child under 14 in your care. Payment stops when youngest child turns 14.
Income Test: $202.60/fn free area, then 40c/$1 reduction above that. Cuts out at around $2,672/fn.
Assets Test: Homeowner: $301,750. Non-homeowner: $543,750.
Work Requirement: Mutual obligation requirements apply once youngest child turns 6 — must look for 15 hours/week of work.
Extras & Supplements: Energy Supplement $14.10/fn. Pension Supplement $81.60/fn. Pensioner Concession Card. Higher rate than most other working-age payments.

Parenting Payment Partnered

Fortnightly Rate: $616.30/fn
Who Is It For: Partnered parents or carers who are the principal carer of a child under 6.
Age Requirement: Must have a child under 6 in your care. Payment stops when youngest child turns 6.
Income Test: $150/fn free area, then 50c/$1 up to $256, then 60c/$1. Partner income over $1,124/fn reduces by 60c/$1.
Assets Test: Couple homeowner: $451,500 (combined). Couple non-homeowner: $693,500 (combined).
Work Requirement: Mutual obligation requirements apply once youngest child turns 6 months — must look for 15 hours/week of work.
Extras & Supplements: Energy Supplement $12.80/fn. Health Care Card (not Pensioner Concession Card). Significantly lower rate than PPS.

Which one should you choose?

Your relationship status determines which payment you receive — you do not choose between them. If you are single, you get PPS ($987.70/fn) with a child under 14. If you are partnered, you get PPP ($616.30/fn) with a child under 6. PPS pays substantially more and has a higher income free area, more generous taper rate (40c vs 60c), and continues until your youngest turns 14 (vs 6 for PPP). If your relationship status changes, your payment automatically switches.

Parenting Payment Single Calculator →

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.