Preterm baby payments

You may be able to get preterm baby payments if your baby is born before the end of 36 weeks’ gestation (before week 37 of the pregnancy). These payments are additional to parental leave payments.

You may be able to get preterm baby payments if:

you’re caring for a baby who was born live before the end of 36 weeks’ gestation, and

you’re eligible for parental leave payments. Preterm baby payments are available for a continuous period of up to 13 weeks. They are paid at the same rate as the parental leave payment.

The preterm baby payment period can start from either:

the date the baby is born, if you or your partner gave birth to the baby

the date any other person becomes the primary carer for the baby.

The preterm baby payment period ends on whichever is earliest:

the date that would have been the end of 36 weeks’ gestation

the date the primary carer returns to work or stops being the primary carer (unless they gave birth to the baby — the birth mother will get preterm payments until the end of 36 weeks’ gestation whether or not she is the primary carer of the baby).