7.1.4 Agency collect payment periods

Context

This topic covers payment periods (1.1.P.50) when an agency collect (1.1.A.50) arrangement is in place, and applies to periodic enforceable maintenance liabilities.

See 7.1.1 for calculating payment rates (including daily rates).

On this page

• Initial payment period
• Payment periods – voluntary payments
• Payment periods – employer withholding

Initial payment period (1.1.I.40)

When the Registrar registers a maintenance liability for collection, an initial payment period must also be entered if there is one. The initial payment period starts on the day the liability becomes payable to the Registrar and ends the day before the start of the first regular payment period.

The Registrar will calculate the amount payable for this period by multiplying the daily rate (7.1.1) by the number of days in the initial period and notify the payer (1.1.P.40).

Payment periods - voluntary payments

A payer can make an application to pay directly to the Registrar rather than having child support (1.1.C.60) deducted from their wages. If this election is approved, they will have a periodic child support liability for a particular payment period. A payer may make an election to make it a different period. Elections for payment periods to be weekly, fortnightly, monthly or 4-weekly will be accepted if the Registrar is satisfied this will be convenient for the payer. Where the Registrar is not satisfied that the elected payment period would be convenient for the payer, the payment period will be determined by the Registrar.

Payment periods – employer withholding (1.1.E.20)

If the Registrar uses employer withholding to collect child support, the payment cycle will be the same as the payer's pay cycle (see 7.4.3.10 on paying from salary and wages). It can be weekly, fortnightly, 4 weekly or monthly. The first day of the first payment cycle will be determined by the Registrar and will be the start of the first payment period for which employer deductions will occur.