Family assistance payments

A family assistance payment after having a baby can help with the cost of raising a child. Learn about the types of financial support available.

Last updated: 11 August 2023

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There are different types of family assistance payments available to help parents and non parent carers with the cost of raising a baby.

Your eligibility for each will depend on your situation. Types of payments include:

Newborn Upfront Payment – a lump sum payment per child
Newborn Supplement – up to 13 weeks per child
Parental Leave Pay – up to 18 weeks while you take time off work to care for your newborn baby
Dad and Partner Pay – up to 2 weeks to care for a newborn baby
Family Tax Benefit – a 2-part payment that helps with the cost of raising children
Parenting Payment – an ongoing payment for the main carers of young children.

You can use the payment and service finder at Services Australia to check if you're eligible for any of these payments.

Check eligibility

You may also be eligible for other types of financial support if your baby has a disability.

Changes to Parental Leave Pay

On 1 July 2023, Parental Leave Pay and Dad and Partner Pay combined into one payment. It increased from 90 days, or up to 18 weeks based on a 5 day work week, to 100 days or 20 weeks.

If your child's birth or entry into care was before 1 July 2023, your family will be assessed under the old rules. That means your family may be able to get up to 18 weeks of Parental Leave Pay and up to 2 weeks of Dad and Partner Pay. This is regardless of when you choose to start your payment.

If your child’s birth or entry into care was on or after 1 July 2023, these changes will affect you.

Find out more at Services Australia.