Dad and Partner Pay (DAPP)
Supporting An Equal Parenting Experience Dad and partner pay is a government funded program that began in January 2011. The program is Australia’s first attempt to give eligible dads and partners up to two weeks paid time off for the birth of a newborn baby or the adoption of a baby.
Eligibility for Dad and Partner Pay Under the statute a dad or partner is eligible for this family benefit if they meet the following criteria: provide care for a newborn or recently adopted child meet a work and income test be on unpaid leave or not working while getting the payment make a claim within 52 weeks of the child’s birth or adoption If a dad or a partner is found eligible for DAPP, and they are gainfully employed, the payments are made directly to the employee. Therefore, in order for a working dad or partner to be eligible for DAPP, their employer must provide them with unpaid leave for the purpose of caring for their newborn or newly adopted child.
DAPP can affect other payments It is important to keep in mind that DAPP can affect other payments that a family receives. For example, an individual cannot receive Parental Pay Leave and DAPP at the same time. However, as a family you may be able to receive other benefits, including DAPP, at the same time for the same child, including the Parental Pay Leave, or the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement.
It is necessary to the individual receiving the DAPP benefits to prove that they have been part of the work force, or have been given an exemption from the employment requirement. The employment requirement includes the following criteria:
10
of the 13 months before the date your Dad and Partner Pay period starts
!
330
hours in that
10
month period,
which is just over a day a week with no more than an 8-week gap between 2 consecutive working days
Exception There is an exception to meeting the above criteria. If the child was born prematurely and such early delivery prevented the individual from completing the work requirements, the individual may still be eligible for DAPP. However, the applicant must show that the event that prevented them from meeting the work requirement, was the premature birth.
For further information or inquiries, please contact the offices of Owen Hodge Lawyers. At Owen Hodge, we are always happy to assist clients in understanding the full ramifications of any and all of your legal needs. Please feel free to call us at your earliest convenience to schedule a consultation at 1800 780 770.
CONTACT US NOW