Longserviceleave.com

Pro-rata long service leave in the Northern Territory

In the Northern Territory, if your job ends after at least 7 but less than 10 years, you may be paid 1.3 weeks for each completed year (s 10(2)). It depends on why your job ended. An ordinary resignation does not qualify.

By Sri Murugan Systems ยท Rules last reviewed

You qualify if your job ends in one of three ways: on or after the age at which you may retire; because your employer ended it for a reason other than serious misconduct; or because of illness, incapacity or domestic or other pressing necessity that justifies you leaving (s 10(2)). Redundancy is an employer termination, so it qualifies.

You do not qualify if you resign for an ordinary reason, such as taking another job, or if you are dismissed for serious misconduct (s 10(2)).

The minimum is 7 years. The Act sets this (s 10(2)), although nt.gov.au does not mention a minimum. With less than 7 years, nothing is payable.

Only completed years count (nt.gov.au). At 7 years you are paid for 9.10 weeks, at 8 years 10.40 weeks and at 9 years 11.70 weeks. 9 years and 11 months is still paid as 9 years.

NT law does not set a retirement age. The Act says only 'the age at which he or she may retire' (s 10(2)). If you plan to retire between 7 and 10 years, confirm with your employer that this applies to you.

The dollar amount is worked out year by year. For each completed year, your rate of pay on the day before you leave is multiplied by your weekly hours in that year and by 1.3, and the years are added together (s 11(2)-(3)). If you worked fewer hours in earlier years, those years are paid at the lower hours.

If you die with 7 to 10 years of service, your personal representative can ask for the amount you would have been paid (s 10(3)). It must be paid within 12 months (s 11(7)(b)).

Common questions

Do I get pro-rata long service leave if I resign in the NT?

Only if illness, incapacity or domestic or other pressing necessity justifies leaving, or you leave at or after the age at which you may retire (s 10(2)). An ordinary resignation gets nothing.

Are part years counted for NT pro-rata?

No. Only completed years count (s 10(2), nt.gov.au).

What retirement age applies in the NT?

NT law does not set one. The Act refers only to the age at which you may retire (s 10(2)).

Does redundancy qualify for pro-rata in the NT?

Yes. It is a termination by your employer for a reason other than serious misconduct (s 10(2)).

Official sources

Rules last reviewed 3 November 2026.