If you’re self-employed

If you’re self-employed, it’s up to you how much time you take off work when you become a parent.

You’ll qualify for parental leave payments if you:

• are the primary carer of a child under 6 years old, and
• have worked in self-employment for an average of at least 10 hours a week over any 26 of the 52 weeks just before:
  • your baby’s due date (if you or your partner are giving birth to the baby), or
  • the first date you or your partner become primary carer (if you or your partner have not given birth to the baby, for example, you’re adopting a child).

If you’re eligible, you’ll get up to 26 weeks of parental leave payments while you’re not working so that you can care for your child. If you go back to work before the 26 weeks are up, your parental leave payments will stop.

If you have a premature baby, you may be able to get preterm baby payments as well.

Find out more about parental leave payments, preterm baby payments, and how to work out if you’re eligible:
Parental leave payments

Apply for parental leave payments through IR:

Apply for paid parental leave – Inland revenue(external link)

You must apply for parental leave payments before whichever is earliest:

• the date you return to work
• your baby’s first birthday (if you, or your partner or spouse, gave birth to the baby) or before you’ve had permanent primary responsibility for the child under 6 years for 12 months (if you or your partner or spouse did not give birth to the baby).

Make sure you apply in time so your whānau does not miss out.