Disagreeing with a child support decision
If you disagree with a decision made by the Services Australia (Child Support), you can lodge a written objection with them to have the decision reviewed.
If you disagree with their response, you can appeal the decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) – Social Services and Child Support (SSCS) Division.
If you disagree with the first decision, you may be able to apply to the General Division of the AAT for a second review (if it relates to percentage of child's care) or you may able to appeal the decision to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you are appealing a child support decision and you can’t afford to keep paying the required amount, you may need to apply for a stay order.
Objecting to a child support decision
If you disagree with a decision made by the Services Australia (Child Support), you can lodge an objection with them to have the decision reviewed.
An objection must be in writing. For most child support decisions, you must lodge your objection within 28 days from when you received your decision letter (or 90 days if you live overseas).
Your objection will be reviewed by an objections officer.
Visit the Services Australia (Child Support) website for more information about objecting to child support decisions.
Appealing to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal – SSCS Division
If you disagree with the Services Australia (Child Support) decision, you may be able to appeal the decision to the AAT —SSCS Division within 28 days from when you received your decision letter (or 90 days if you live overseas).
The SSCS Division appeal is quick, informal and free. You’re allowed to have a legal representative help you when your matter is heard by the SSCS Division. If you get legal representation, you must pay your own legal costs, even if you’re successful.
The SSCS Division can review most objection decisions made by the Services Australia (Child Support).
Decisions that can be appealed include:
- a change of assessment
- the children’s level of care
- income estimates
- non-agency payments
- refusal of an extension of time lodge an objection.
The SSCS Division can:
- leave the decision unchanged (affirm)
- change the decision (vary)
- make a new decision
- send the matter back to the Services Australia (Child Support) to reconsider some or all of the issues.
The SSCS Division decision will usually be provided in writing, with the reasons for the decision being sent by post within 14 days of the hearing.
Sometimes the SSCS Division will give the reasons for their decision in person (face-to-face or over the phone). A copy of the decision (without reasons) will then be sent by post within a few days of the hearing. If this happens, you can ask for the reasons for the decision in writing. You must do this within 14 days of the decision being made. A copy of the written reasons will then be provided.
Get legal advice.
If you disagree with the first decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Division, you may be able to apply to the General Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a second review or you may able the decision to appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Applying to the General Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
If you disagree with a decision in a first review by the SSCS Division, you can apply to the AAT for a second review of the decision in the General Division of the AAT, if the decision is about:
- a refusal of an extension of time to apply for first review
- the percentage care for a child
You must apply for a second review within 28 days from when you receive the written reasons for the decision of the SSCS Division. If no reasons are given, you must apply within 28 days of receiving the decision of the SSCS Division (or 90 days if you live overseas). Get legal advice.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
You may be able to appeal a SSCS Division decision to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia if the SSCS Division made an error of law (not an error about the facts).
You have 28 days from the notice of the decision of the SSCS Division to appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you’re applying to change an administrative assessment, you may need to apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in certain circumstances. Get legal advice.
Generally, you can apply to court where:
- the time period to be reviewed is more than 18 months earlier, but not more than 7 years earlier, (a change of assessment application to Services Australia (Child Support) can only be requested for a review of the last 18 months)
- Services Australia (Child Support) or the SSCS Division have refused to make a decision because the matter is too complex, or
- there are other child support matters already being heard by the court.
When you apply to court, you will need to serve Services Australia (Child Support). If the application is about a decision of the AAT, you will also need to serve the AAT.
If the court makes an order, you need to let Services Australia (Child Support) know and send them a copy of the order.
Stay orders
If you are appealing a child support decision and you can’t afford to keep paying the required amount, you may be able to apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court for a stay order.
A stay order is a temporary court order that may:
- stop Services Australia (Child Support) enforcing child support debts against you, or accumulating penalties for a particular time period, set a reduced child support rate to be paid, or leave it at the current rate where there has been an assessment for an increase, until the appeal is finalised.
When you apply to court, you will need to serve Services Australia (Child Support).
Within 14 days of a stay order being made, you must:
- serve a copy of the order on Services Australia (Child Support)
- complete a Child support or maintenance change form.
The stay order will have effect until:
- the date stated in the stay order or
- your application to change the administrative assessment has been finalised (if no date is given).
A stay order doesn’t stop your legal obligation to pay the child support amount assessed by Services Australia (Child Support). If the court makes a stay order and your appeal is unsuccessful, you will still have to pay what you owed while the stay order was in place.
Get legal advice.
Do I need legal advice?
You may need legal advice if:
- you’ve been through Services Australia (Child Support)’s internal review process and disagree with the decision
- you are going to the AAT or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for a review
- you disagree with an AAT – SSCS Division decision.
Get legal advice
We can give legal advice about child support matters.
The following organisations may also be able to give legal advice.
Gold Coast Legal Service gives legal advice on child support.
Queensland Law Society can refer you to a specialist private lawyer for advice or representation.
Who else can help?
These organisations may be able to help. They don’t give legal advice.
Services Australia (Child Support) administers the child support scheme to ensure parents contribute to the costs of raising children after separation. They give support and help to parents, including calculating, collecting and transferring child support payments.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Social Services and Child Support Division reviews decisions made by an officer of the Department of Human Services (Child Support).
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia makes decision about a range of issues including child support matters.
Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.
Last updated 31 March 2023