Parental leave payment (paid parental leave)

Employees and self-employed people may be able get a government-funded parental leave payment while they’re not working and are caring for a new child.

Overview

Parental leave payments are administered by Inland Revenue. A person may be able to get parental leave payments even if they don’t qualify for parental leave from their employment.

Who can get parental leave payments

Employees and self-employed people may be able get parental leave payments when they’re not working so they can care for a new child.

Amount of parental leave payment

The parental leave payment is a weekly payment for one continuous period of up to 26 weeks.

Parental leave payment period

The parental leave payment period can’t start later than the child’s arrival and the payments are for up to 26 weeks.

Applying for parental leave payments

Employees and self-employed people apply for parental leave payments through Inland Revenue. They must apply before the earlier of 12 months since the child's arrival, or when they return to work.

Preterm baby parental leave payments

Preterm baby payments may be available if a baby is born before the end of 36 weeks’ gestation. These are in addition to parental leave payments.

Parental leave payment scenarios

Employees and self-employed people may be able get parental leave payments while they’re not working so they can care for a new child.

Page last revised: 01 July 2020

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