Self-employed parents are eligible for 14 weeks paid parental leave under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987
You are a self-employed person under the Act if you are:
a) Providing goods or services for hire or reward under a contract for services, or
b) Carrying on a business (including a profession, trade, manufacturing operation or an undertaking carried on for profit), including in partnership for another person, or
c) Working for a trust in a business carried on by the trust.
To be eligible you must:
- Meet the definition of self-employed stated above, and
- Be a birth mother/adoptive parent, and
- Have worked an average of at least 10 hours a week over the six or 12 months immediately before the expected date of delivery or adoption of a child.
See what you could be eligible for
The payment is funded by the government, if you meet the criteria you are entitled to:
§ Your average weekly income or $429.74 per week (gross) whichever is lower, or
§ If you make a loss or earn less than $125.00 per week (gross), you’re entitled to $125.00 per week (gross).
On the 1st of July 2010 the maximum payment for self-employed persons will rise to $441.62 per week (gross). The minimum payment for self employed persons will rise to $127.50 per week (gross).
Calculate your net income for the parental leave payment
Your self-employed status, net income and average weekly earnings details need to be confirmed by a:
- Declaration from a Chartered Accountant, or a
- Declaration completed by you and witnessed by a Justice of the
Peace (or other person who may witness a statutory declaration) or,
From 1 July 2010 tax advisors who are a member of an organisation with approved advisor group status (This currently applies to NZICA and TINZ) under the Tax Administration Act 1994. Find out more about who can verify your application
Payments for parental leave are processed by Inland Revenue. Once you have decided on your leave arrangements, you should make an application as soon as possible, using the following forms:
IR888 for self employed applicants
IR889 for partners of self-employed applicants
Get more information on parental leave for self employed persons