Changing a child support assessment
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Changing a child support assessment
There are various options to change an assessment if you believe it is not fair or not correct.
- Estimate of income, change in care levels or other circumstances
- Special circumstances
Other ways to change an assessment:
Estimate of income, changes in care levels or other circumstances
Estimate of income
If your current income is 85% or less than your last taxable income, you can lodge an estimate of your income with the Child Support Agency. Note: your estimates will be checked against your actual income and penalties apply for incorrect estimates.
Changes in care levels or other circumstances
It is important to notify the Child Support Agency of any change in circumstances as soon as possible. Some examples include changes in the care arrangements for the children, or if a payer has a new dependent child, enters into a de facto relationship or if a child dies.
Changes in your assessment in special circumstances
There are ten special circumstances or grounds that a parent can apply for a review of their assessment. From 1 July 2008 these are:
- Reason 1
The high costs of enabling a parent to spend time or communicate with the child.
- Reason 2
The special needs of the child.
- Reason 3
Costs of caring for, educating or training a child in the manner expected by the parents.
- Reason 4
The income of the child.
- Reason 5
Money, goods or property received by the child, payee or third person.
- Reason 6
Payee's high child care costs of the child (and the child is under 12).
- Reason 7
Necessary commitments for self support significantly effect the parent's ability to support the child.
- Reason 8
A parent's income, property, financial resources, or earning capacity.
- Reason 9
A parent's legal duty to maintain any other child or another person.
- Reason 10
A parent's responsibility to maintain a resident child.
How can I apply for a review?
What you can do:
- Contact a Change of Assessment Officer on 131 141 to discuss your options.
- Apply for a change of assessment by filling in the Child Support Agency's form 'changing your child support assessment in special circumstances'.
- Send it to the Child Support Agency address at the back of the form with any supporting documents.
- A copy of your application will be sent to the other parent and they have a chance to respond to it. You will receive a copy of this response.
- Wait to hear from the Senior Case Officer about a case conference.
- Attend the case conference in person or by phone.
Important: The Child Support Agency can only change administrative assessments as far back as 18 months earlier from the date of your application for change of assessment.
What happens at a case conference?
- The purpose of the conference is to allow parents to talk about any issues raised in the application or response forms.
- The conference can be held by telephone or in person at the Child Support Agency office, either separately or together.
- The conference is expected to take around 30 minutes.
- The conference is not a hearing and parents are not cross-examined. No legal representatives are allowed at the case conference.
Decision
The Senior Case Officer can decide to increase, decrease or leave the administrative assessment unchanged.
The Senior Case Officer will put their decision in writing and send it to you. This will usually be within three weeks of the case conference.
What if I'm not happy with the decision?
If you disagree with the Senior Case Officer's decision, you must put your reasons in writing to the Child Support Agency within 28 days of that decision. This is called an objection.
Are there other ways to change an assessment?
There are other ways to change a child support assessment (SSAT review, court application). To find out more, you should get legal advice.