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 - 2014

12 December 2014 (v4.05)

Page Title Details
2.7.5 Changing or terminating a child support agreement Updated policy to reflect the outcome of the Federal Circuit Court decision in Cheyne & Masters & Anor (SSAT Appeal) [2014] FCCA 856.

10 November 2014 (v4.04)

Page Title Details
2.4.2 Formula tables and values Added basic values for 2015.
2.5.3 Application to have the fixed annual rate of child support not used Updated to reflect legislative changes.
2.5.4 Application to have the minimum annual rate of child support reduced to nil Updated to reflect legislative changes.
2.5.5 Application to have an assessment continue past a child's 18th birthday Clarified policy.
2.6.14 Reason 8 - a parent's income, property, financial resources, or earning capacity Clarified policy in relation to interactions with estimate of income provisions.
2.6.17 Would a change be just and equitable? Added details about assessment of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) payments.
2.7.2 Application for acceptance of a child support agreement Updated explanation.
2.7.4 Effect of a child support agreement once accepted by the Registrar (other than lump sum payment provisions) Updated policy.
2.7.5 Changing or terminating a child support agreement Clarified policy in relation to ending child support agreements and terminating events.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added September 2014 CPI amount.
5.2.4 Employer obligations for collection from salary or wages Updated the 2015 protected earnings amount.
5.2.9 Collection from third parties Updated to reflect legislative changes.
6 Administration Clarified policy.
6.9 Complaints (deleted) Removed information.
6.9.1 Complaints about decisions (deleted) Removed information.
6.9.2 Complaints about service (deleted) Removed information.
6.9.3 The steps in the complaint handling process (deleted) Removed information.

19 September 2014 (v4.03)

Page Title Details
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Updated policy.
5.2.1 Arrangements for payment Updated to reflect introduction of Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act.
5.5.5 Overpayments Clarified policy.
5.7.1 Non-pursuit of debt Updated legislation.
6.11.1 Compensation Updated to reflect introduction of Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act.
6.11.2 Waiver Clarified description of debt waiver.

11 August 2014 (v4.02)

Page Title Details
2.4.11 Fixed annual rate of child support for certain low income parents Updated references.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Updated rates.
4.1.4 Can an objection decision be made? Clarified policy.
5.1.2 Registrable maintenance liabilities and how they are registered Updated policy.
5.2.5 Collection from social security pensions and benefits Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.3.2 Offsetting debts between payees and payers Clarified policy.
5.6.1 Election to end collection Clarified policy.
5.8.1 Obsolete entries Updated policy.

1 July 2014 (v4.01)

Page Title Details
2.4.2 Formula tables and values Clarified policy.
2.4.4 Child support income Clarified policy.

9 May 2014 (v4.00)

On 12 December 2013 the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) was changed to provide full policy and legislative responsibility for child support to the Department of Social Services (DSS). As a result, responsibility for maintaining the Child Support Guide moved from the Department of Human Services to DSS.

The first release of the Child Support Guide by DSS was on 9 May 2014 (version 4.00).

18 March 2014

Chapter Title Summary of update
2.1.3 Parentage Additional information provided regarding cohabitation.
2.3.2 When do child support periods start? Updated to clarify when a new child support period will not begin with respect to non-parent carer applications. Added an example to emphasise that a child support period cannot be created retrospectively.
2.4.2 Formula tables and values Updated with the AWE figure for 2013.

12 March 2014

Chapter Title Summary of update
2.4.4 Child support income Clarified that payments made under the National Disability Insurance Scheme are not included in adjusted taxable income. Removed content describing amended ATO assessments, which increase a person's income, as always being considered to involve tax evasion.
2.6.10 Reason 4 - income of the child Updated to reflect current payment rates considered to be significant income.
2.7.1 What is a child support agreement? New section created to provide guidance relating to agreements with conditions and pre-requisites.
6.0.0 Administration Updated due to amendments made to the Privacy Act, effective from 12 March 2014.
6.3.0 Privacy, secrecy and proof of identity Updated due to amendments made to the Privacy Act, effective from 12 March 2014.
6.3.1 Privacy Act Updated due to amendments made to the Privacy Act, effective from 12 March 2014.
6.3.2 Tax file numbers and taxation information Updated due to amendments made to the Privacy Act, effective from 12 March 2014.
6.4.1 Subpoenas and notices to produce documents Updated due to amendments made to the Privacy Act, effective from 12 March 2014.

10 February 2014

Chapter Title Summary of update
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Updated with CPI figures for December quarter 2013.

24 January 2014

Chapter Title Summary of update
2.6.14 Reason 8 - a parent's income, property and financial resources, or earning capacity Clarified that payments made under the National Disability Insurance Scheme are not considered income for change of assessment purposes.
2.6.15 Reason 9 - the duty to maintain any other child or another person Removed references to the term 'legal duty' regarding reason 9.
2.7.5 Changing or terminating a child support agreement Reorganised content and removed obsolete references to ending child support agreements that were accepted without an underlying assessment.
4.2.5 The SSAT review process Added content regarding extension of time applications and applications being reinstated.
6.2.2 Taking information from children Added content regarding children who are child support payers or payees and children who have turned 18. Clarified when information is considered to have come from a child and will therefore not be accepted.
6.3.6 Customers' authorised representatives Clarified when Child Support will not accept a person as a representative. Clarified the differences between a person with ordinary authority and a person with legal authority and the extent of their authority.
6.5.1 Forwarding documents and substituted service Clarified what types of documents will be forwarded.