Income and assets

The amount of Parenting Payment you get depends on both your and your partner's (if you have one) income and assets. The following income and assets tests are effective from 1 January 2010.

• Income test - single parents
• Income test - partnered parents
• Assets test
• Hardship provisions

Income test - single parents

• For maximum payment, your income must be no more than $166.60 per fortnight, plus $24.60 for each additional child. Income over this amount reduces your payment by 40 cents in the dollar.
• A part payment may be available if your income is less than $1,602.85 per fortnight, plus $24.60 for each additional child (this figure may be higher if you are eligible for Pharmaceutical Allowance).

Income test - partnered parents

Partner gets a pension

• For maximum payment your combined income must be no more than $124 per fortnight.
• Your combined income reduces your payment by 25 cents for each dollar between $124 and $500, and by 30 cents for each dollar above $500 per fortnight.
• For part payment your combined income must be less than $1,558.34 per fortnight.

Partner does not get a pension

• For maximum payment, your income must be no more than $62 per fortnight, and your partner's income no more than $780 per fortnight.
• Your income reduces your payment by 50 cents for each dollar between $62 and $250, and by 60 cents for each dollar above $250 per fortnight.
• Your partner's income up to $780 per fortnight has no effect. Income over this limit reduces your payment by 60 cents for each extra dollar.
• A part payment may be payable if you meet all the following conditions:
  • your income is less than $779.17 per fortnight, and
  • your partner's income is less than $1,465.83 per fortnight, and
  • your combined income is less than $1,559.17 per fortnight.

Note: Different limits apply if your partner receives Austudy or Youth Allowance.

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Assets test

An asset is any property or possession you own either partly or wholly. It includes assets held outside Australia and debts owing to you.

• Refer to assets test for homeowners if you are buying or own your own home
• Refer to assets test for non-homeowners if you rent or board

Hardship provisions

If you have assets but little or no income, you are expected to rearrange your affairs to provide for yourself. We know in some cases this may not be possible.

If you in are in severe financial hardship you may be able to get a payment. This means your income or assets will be tested differently.

More information

• Assets assessed by Centrelink
• Factors affecting payment rates and eligibility
• Hardship information factsheet
• Income assessed by Centrelink
• Working Credit
• Parenting Payment section

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