Centrelink Parenting Payment September 2025 — Full Guide to New Rates

Raising a child as a single parent means juggling not just emotions and time, but also money. School uniforms, lunch boxes, rent, and bills — they all pile up. That’s where Centrelink’s Parenting Payment steps in, and the good news is that it’s set to rise from 20 September 2025.

For eligible single parents, the base rate will increase to $998.20 per fortnight, offering a modest but welcome bump to fortnightly income at a time when costs are soaring.

Parenting Payment Increase – September 2025

From 20 March 2025, the base rate was $982.50 per fortnight for singles. Come 20 September 2025, that figure jumps to $998.20.

Here’s the comparison:

Category	Previous Base	New Base	Increase
Single (under pension age)	$982.50	$998.20	+$15.70
Partnered (under pension age)	$715.10	$726.50	+$11.40
Single (over pension age)	$982.50	$998.20	+$15.70
Partnered (over pension age)	$715.10	$726.50	+$11.40

Supplements on Top

The Parenting Payment isn’t just the base rate. Most recipients also get:

• Supplement Payment: $29.50 per fortnight
• Energy Supplement: $12.00 per fortnight

That means a single parent’s total rises to $1,039.70 per fortnight starting 20 September 2025.

Payment Type	Amount
Base Payment	$998.20
Supplement	$29.50
Energy Supplement	$12.00
Total	$1,039.70

Partnered parents receive a smaller total due to reduced base and supplement rates.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, you’ll need to meet some core conditions:

• Be single and caring for a child under 14.
• Be the main carer of the child.
• Meet residency requirements (generally Australian resident for 2+ years).
• Satisfy the income and asset tests.
• Meet mutual obligation requirements — such as participating in training, job search, or education, depending on your child’s age.

Income Test – September 2025

Payments are reduced once your income goes beyond the free area.

Income Type	Previous Limit	New Limit	Difference
Income Free Area	$224.60	$224.60	–
Disqualifying Income (under 67)	$2,800.35	$2,840.85	+$40.50

So, if you earn less than $224.60 per fortnight, you’ll get the full payment. Above that, your Parenting Payment gradually reduces until it cuts off completely at $2,840.85 per fortnight.

Payment Dates

The new rates kick in on 20 September 2025.

• If you’re already receiving Parenting Payment, your rate will update automatically.
• If you’re new to the payment, you’ll need to apply through Services Australia.

The Reality Check

Let’s be real: $998.20 per fortnight won’t cover everything. It won’t stop the stress of back-to-school shopping or ease every rent hike. But it’s consistent, reliable income support — and with supplements included, that $1,039.70 makes a real difference when you’re raising a child solo.

The September 2025 Parenting Payment increase is part of the government’s standard indexation process — not a one-off bonus. It’s designed to make sure payments keep pace, at least in part, with inflation.

For single parents doing it tough, that extra $15.70 per fortnight is more than numbers on a page. It could mean a week’s worth of fruit and veg, a school excursion, or covering the rising power bill.

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