A progress claim is the document a subcontractor or contractor submits each period to claim payment for work completed to date under a construction contract — standard practice in Australia and New Zealand under the Security of Payment legislation, and in Canada, where builders lien acts require a holdback (commonly 10%) from each payment.
This free generator produces a complete progress claim: a cover summary showing the contract sum, variations, retention or holdback withheld, previous claims, and the amount now claimed — backed by an itemized claim schedule showing percent complete and balance for every work item. Use the settings to switch currency (AUD, NZD, CAD) and turn off US-specific blocks like notarization.
The generator uses North American payment-application vocabulary; here is how it maps to progress claim terms:
| On this form | Local term |
|---|---|
| Pay application / Application No. | Progress claim / Claim No. |
| Retainage | Retention (AU/NZ) · Holdback (Canada) |
| Schedule of values / Continuation sheet | Claim schedule / Payment schedule breakdown |
| Change orders | Variations |
| Previous certificates for payment | Previously claimed / certified |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a progress claim?
- A progress claim is a periodic request for payment for work completed to date under a construction contract. It itemizes each work item's contract value, the portion completed in previous claims and this claim, any retention or holdback withheld, and the net amount now claimed.
- What is the difference between retention and holdback?
- They are the same mechanism with different names: a percentage of each payment withheld until the work is complete. Australia and New Zealand call it retention (commonly 5%, often halved at practical completion); Canadian builders lien legislation mandates a holdback, commonly 10%. Set the rate in the generator and it is calculated automatically on every claim.
- Does this satisfy Security of Payment requirements?
- The generator produces the claim document itself — the itemized statement of work completed and amount claimed. Security of Payment acts also impose procedural requirements (endorsements, service methods, response deadlines) that vary by state and are your responsibility; this tool does not provide legal advice.
- Can I claim for materials on site?
- Yes — the stored materials column covers unfixed materials delivered to site, where your contract allows claiming them. If your contract doesn't, toggle the stored materials section off and the column disappears from both the form and the calculations.
- How do I make next month's claim?
- Click “Next Application”. This claim's amounts roll into the previously-claimed column, the amount due is added to previous certificates, and the claim number increments — so claim #2 starts exactly where #1 finished.