The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

Child Support Guide Updates - 2015

9 November 2015 (v4.12)

Page Title Details
2.5.5 Application to Have an Assessment Continue Past a Child's 18th Birthday Clarified policy.
5.5.2 Entitlement to Payment & Disbursement Cycle Clarified policy.
6.6.2 Gaining Access to Documents Clarified policy.

21 September 2015 (v4.11)

Page Title Details
1.1.1 The Child Support Scheme Clarified policy.
1.2.1 Amendments to the CSRC Act Clarified policy.
1.2.2 Amendments to the CSA Act Updated terminology.
1.5.1 Australia's International Maintenance Arrangements Clarified policy.
1.6.2 Residence & Citizenship - Child Updated policy.
1.6.3 Resident of a Reciprocating Jurisdiction Clarified policy.
2.4.11 Fixed Annual Rate of Child Support for Certain Low Income Parents Clarified policy.
2.5 Applications & Elections to Amend an Assessment Updated terminology.
2.5.4 Application to Have the Minimum Annual Rate of Child Support Reduced to Nil Clarified policy.
2.5.6 Estimates of Income - Before 1 July 2010 Clarified policy.
2.6.1 When Can the Registrar Consider Changing an Assessment? Clarified policy.
2.9.5 Amending Assessments Clarified policy.
2.10.2 Electing to End an Assessment Clarified policy.
4.1.1 Overview Clarified policy.
5.2.8 Tax Refund Intercepts Clarified policy.
5.2.9 Collection from Third Parties Updated policy.
5.8.1 Obsolete Entries Updated terminology.
6.2.1 Information Need Not Be in Writing Clarified policy.
6.3 Privacy, Secrecy & Proof of Identity Clarified policy.
6.3.5 Proof of Identity Clarified policy.
6.3.7 Restricted Access to Certain Information Clarified policy.
6.4.1 Subpoenas & Notices to Produce Documents Clarified policy.
6.8 Offences & Prosecution Updated to change in penalty unit amount.
6.8.1 Employer Offences Clarified policy.
6.8.7 Prosecution of Offences Updated to reflect legislative change to penalty unit amount.
6.11.1 Compensation Clarified policy.
6.11.2 Waiver Clarified policy.

17 August 2015 (v4.10)

Page Title Details
2.5.1 Income Estimates for a Year of Income Updated policy.
2.6 Change of Assessment in Special Circumstances Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
2.6.3 A Decision to Refuse to Change an Assessment Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
2.6.5 Change of Assessment Process - Application from Payer or Payee Updated policy.
2.6.6 Registrar-initiated Change of Assessment Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
2.6.14 Reason 8 - a Parent's Income, Property, Financial Resources, or Earning Capacity Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
3.4.3 CPI Indexation for Cost of Living Added June 2015 CPI figures.
4.2.5 The AAT Review Process Updated to reflect Administrative Appeals Tribunal practice directions.
5.1.6 Late Payment Penalties Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
5.2.4 Employer Obligations for Collection from Salary or Wages Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.

1 July 2015 (v4.09)

Page Title Details
1.2.1 Amendments to the CSRC Act Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.4.2 Application of the CSRC Act to WA Ex-nuptial Cases Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
1.4.3 Application of the CSA Act to WA Ex-nuptial Cases Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.5.1 Australia's International Maintenance Arrangements Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.6.1 Australian Residence - Parent or Non-parent Carer Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.1.6 Notice of the Decision Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.1 Basics of Care Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.2.5 Alignment of Care between Child Support & FTB Updated policy.
2.2.6 Care Determinations Prior to 01/07/2010 Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
2.4.2 Formula Tables & Values Added 2014 AWE amount.
2.7.4 Effect of a Child Support Agreement Once Accepted by the Registrar (Other than Lump Sum Payment Provisions) Updated policy.
2.8.1 Court Orders that Vary Assessments Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.9.1 How an Assessment is Made Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.9.2 Assessment Notices Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.9.5 Amending Assessments Updated to reflect legislative change.
3.4.3 CPI Indexation for Cost of Living Updated CPI figures.
3.4.5 Suspension for Unemployment (Low-income Non-enforcement Period) Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.2 Decisions Made under the CSA Act to Which a Parent May Object Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.5 Extensions of Time to Lodge Objections Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.6 Making a Decision to Allow or Disallow an Objection Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.1.8 Care Percentage Decisions Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2 External Review Applications to the AAT Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.2.1 Overview Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.2.2 Decisions Which Can be Reviewed by the AAT Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2.3 How to Apply to the AAT for a Review of a Child Support Objection Decision Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2.4 Time Limit on Applications for AAT Review Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.2.5 The AAT Review Process Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.2.6 Effect of AAT First or Second Review Application on the Original Decision Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.3 Court Applications, Appeals & Orders Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.1 Overview Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.3.2 Applications & Orders about Decisions under the CSA Act Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.3 Implementing Court Orders Made under the Child Support Legislation Updated to reflect legislative change.
4.3.6 Appealing AAT Decisions Updated to reflect tribunals amalgamation.
4.3.7 The Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.4 Suspending Payments to Payees Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.5 Overpayments Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.3.3 Secrecy Provisions Updated to reflect legislative change.

11 May 2015 (v4.08)

Page Title Details
1.4.3 Application of the CSA Act to WA Ex-nuptial Cases Updated Act reference.
2.4.4 Child Support Income Updated policy.
2.4.9 Assessments when a Parent has Multiple Child Support Cases (Formulas 3 & 4) Clarified policy.
2.6.10 Reason 4 - Income of the Child Updated policy.
2.9.4 Recovery of Child Support Clarified policy.
3.5.6 Other Common Provisions in Court Orders & Agreements Clarified policy.
4.1.3 Decisions Made under the CSRC Act to Which a Person May Object Clarified policy.
4.1.6 Making a Decision to Allow or Disallow an Objection Clarified policy.
4.2.3 How to Apply to the SSAT for a Review of a Child Support Objection Decision Clarified policy.
4.3.2 Applications & Orders about Decisions under the CSA Act Clarified policy.
4.3.4 FL Act Orders Affecting a Child Support Assessment Updated to reflect that the relevant dependent allowance is now taken from the adjusted taxable income when calculating the child support income.
5.2.4 Employer Obligations for Collection from Salary or Wages Clarified policy.
5.3.2 Offsetting Debts between Payees and Payers Clarified policy.
6.3.3 Secrecy Provisions Updated policy.

20 March 2015 (v4.07)

Page Title Details
1.4.2 Application of the Registration and Collection Act to WA ex-nuptial cases Update to reflect latest Western Australia legislation adoption Act.
1.4.3 Application of the Assessment Act to WA ex-nuptial cases Updated policy to reflect latest Western Australian legislation.
1.5.2 International Agreements and Conventions Clarified policy.
2.2 Care Updated whole section.
2.2.1 Basics of care Clarified policy.
2.2.2 Care determinations and changes in care Clarified policy.
2.2.3 Below regular care determinations Moved content previously in 2.2.3 to 2.2.2. Updated information previously in 2.2.7 and moved to 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Disputed care arrangements Moved content previously in 2.2.8 to 2.2.4. Updated information previously in 2.2.4 and moved to 2.2.6.
2.2.5 Alignment of care between Child Support and Centrelink Removed content previously in 2.2.5. Updated information previously in 2.2.9 and moved to 2.2.5.
2.2.6 Care determinations prior to 1 July 2010 Clarified policy and added information previously found in 2.2.4.
2.2.7 Below regular care determinations (deleted - see 2.2.3) Removed content. Content previously found in 2.2.7 moved to 2.2.3.
2.2.8 Interim determinations from 1 July 2010 (deleted - see 2.2.4) Removed content. Content previously found in 2.2.8 now in 2.2.4.
2.2.9 Alignment of care between Child Support and Centrelink (from 1 July 2010) (deleted - see 2.2.5) Removed content. Content previously found in 2.2.9 now in 2.2.5.
2.4.11 Fixed annual rate of child support for certain low income parents Updated policy.
2.4.12 The minimum annual rate of child support Updated policy.
2.5.1 Income estimates for a year of income Updated policy.
2.5.5 Application to have an assessment continue past a child's 18th birthday Clarified policy.
2.10.3 Terminating events Updated policy.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Updated CPI table to include December 2014 quarter figure.
3.4.5 Suspension for unemployment (low-income non-enforcement period) Clarified policy.
4.3.2 Applications and orders about decisions under the Assessment Act Updated policy.
5.1.6 Late payment penalties Updated policy.
5.2.5 Collection from social security pensions and benefits Clarified policy.
5.3.1 Non-agency payments Updated policy.
6.5.1 Forwarding documents and substituted service Clarified policy.

9 February 2015 (v4.06)

Page Title Details
2.6.1 When can the Registrar consider changing an assessment? Updated policy to reflect tribunal decision.
2.6.3 A decision to refuse to change an assessment Updated policy to reflect tribunal decision.
2.6.4 Kinds of change of assessment decisions Updated policy to reflect tribunal decision.
2.6.6 Registrar-initiated change of assessment Updated policy to reflect tribunal decision.