Longserviceleave.com

ACT building and construction portable long service

Building and construction workers in the ACT must be registered with ACT Leave. Your service is recorded by ACT Leave, not one employer. You qualify after 10 years of recorded service.

By Sri Murugan Systems ยท Rules last reviewed

Estimate your scheme entitlement

ACT Leave

Enter the service the scheme has recorded for you. This is an estimate; the scheme's own statement is what counts.

Whole and part years, from your service statement.

$

Before tax, without overtime.

Find your number and check your service

See how to find your registration number, the member portal and what to do if service is missing.

The state long service leave calculator does not apply to this scheme. If you are covered, your leave is worked out and paid by ACT Leave under its own rules. Check your service record with the scheme.

Who is covered

  • Full-time, part-time and casual employees, including visa holders, doing relevant work in the ACT building and construction industry. Registration is mandatory.
  • Apprentices.
  • Contractors, sole traders, partners and working directors may register voluntarily. They receive a levy refund plus interest instead of leave.

When you qualify

You need 10 years of recorded service.

What you get

You get 13 weeks after 10 years if you registered on or after 1 January 1997. If you registered earlier, it is 13 weeks per 15 years. After that you earn 1.3 weeks per year. You are paid at your highest weekly average ordinary pay over the last 2 or 4 quarters. Each claim must be at least 2 weeks.

Leaving early, illness, retirement and death

  • Leaving the industry: 5 years if you registered before 1 July 2012, or 7 years if you registered on or after 1 July 2012. There is a 20-week waiting period.
  • Retirement at 55 or over, or on a veteran pension; total incapacity; or death: 55 days if registered before 1 July 2012, or 5 years if registered on or after 1 July 2012.

How it is paid

ACT Leave pays into your nominated bank account. Leave is taxed at weekly marginal rates. Lump sums on termination are taxed under ATO Schedule 7. No tax is withheld on any contractor component.

How to claim

Claim through the ACT Leave client portal at https://actleave.act.gov.au/client-portal/. ACT Leave's construction claims page lists what you need. Each claim must be at least 2 weeks.

Before you rely on this

  • Your registration date matters. It changes your entitlement rate and your early-access thresholds.
  • After leaving the industry there is a 20-week waiting period before you can claim.
  • Voluntary members such as contractors get a levy refund plus interest, not leave.

The scheme and its law

Common questions

How much leave do I get after 10 years?

13 weeks if you registered on or after 1 January 1997, then 1.3 weeks a year after that. Earlier registrations earn 13 weeks per 15 years.

Can I get paid if I leave construction?

Yes, after 7 years if you registered on or after 1 July 2012 (5 years if earlier). You wait 20 weeks after leaving before claiming.

What rate am I paid at?

Your highest weekly average ordinary pay over the last 2 or 4 quarters.

Official sources

Last reviewed 3 November 2026.