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 - 2020

9 November 2020 (v4.52)

Page Title Details
2.6.4 Kinds of change of assessment decisions Clarifed policy.

21 September 2020 (v4.51)

Page Title Details
1.2.1 Amendments to the CSRC Act Updated to reflect legislative changes.
1.2.2 Amendments to the CSA Act Updated to reflect legislative changes.
2.4.4.10 Adjusted taxable income Removed reference to wife pension.
2.4.11 Fixed annual rate of child support for certain low income parents Clarified policy.
2.6.15 Reason 9 - the duty to maintain any other child or another person Clarified policy.
2.8.2 Implementing court orders that vary assessments Clarified policy.
2.9.5 Amending assessments Clarified policy,
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added June 2020 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
3.5.6 Other common provisions in court orders & agreements Clarified policy.
4.1.8 Care percentage decisions Clarified policy.
4.2.5 The AAT review process Clarified policy.
4.3.3 Implementing court orders made under the child support legislation Clarified policy.
4.3.6 Appealing AAT decisions in court Clarified policy.
5.2.3 Collection from salary or wages Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.2.4 Employer obligations for collection from salary or wages Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.2.5 Collection from social security pensions & benefits Clarified policy.
5.2.9 Collection from third parties Clarified policy.
5.3.1 Non-agency payments Clarified policy.
6.3.2 Tax file numbers & taxation information Updated to reflect legislative change.
6.5.1 Forwarding documents & substituted service Clarified policy.
6.8.1 Employer offences Updated to reflect legislative change.

10 August 2020 (v4.50)

Page Title Details
2.7.1 What is a child support agreement? Clarified policy.
2.7.5 Changing or terminating a child support agreement Updated to reflect 2018 legislative changes.
2.10 Suspending & ending assessments Updated policy.
3.1.6 Court registered agreements, financial agreements & parenting plans Clarified policy.
3.3.1 Notification of court orders & court registered agreements Clarified policy.
5.4.3 Enforcement by civil action Clarified policy.
6.3 Privacy, secrecy & proof of identity Clarified policy.
6.6.1 Documents held by the Department (deleted) Removed information.
6.8.7 Prosecution of offences Updated penalty unit value.

1 July 2020 (v4.49)

Page Title Details
1.5.1 Australia's international maintenance arrangements Updated list of reciprocating jurisdictions.
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Added 2019 average weekly earnings (AWE) value.
2.4.4.10 Adjusted taxable income Updated policy.
2.4.11 Fixed annual rate of child support for certain low income parents Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.5.3 Application to have the fixed annual rate of child support not used Updated policy.
2.5.4 Application to have the minimum annual rate of child support reduced to nil Updated policy.
2.6.14 Reason 8 - a parent's income, property, financial resources, or earning capacity Clarified policy.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added March 2020 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
4.2.5 The AAT review process Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.2.5 Collection from social security pensions & benefits Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.3 Top up Clarified policy.
6.8 Offences & prosecution Added 1 July 2020 penalty unit amount.

11 May 2020 (v4.48)

Page Title Details
1.2.2 Amendments to the CSA Act Added Act reference.
2.6.1 When can the Registrar consider or a court changing an assessment? Clarified policy.
2.6.5 Change of assessment process - application from payer or payee Updated policy.
2.6.7 Reason 1 - high costs in enabling a parent to spend time with, or communicate with, a child Clarified policy.
2.6.13 Reason 7 - necessary commitments of self-support Clarified policy.
2.6.16 Reason 10 - responsibility of the parent to maintain a resident child Clarified policy.
4.3.2 Applications & orders about decisions under the CSA Act Clarified policy.
5.2.1 Arrangements for payment Clarified policy.

20 March 2020 (v4.47)

Page Title Details
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added December 2019 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
5.2.3 Collection from salary or wages Clarified policy.

10 February 2020 (v4.46)

Page Title Details
3.6.1 Registrable overseas maintenance liabilities Clarified policy.
3.6.2 Registering overseas maintenance liabilities for collection Clarified policy.
5.5.4 Suspending payments to payees Clarified policy.
6.3.6 Authorised representatives Clarified policy.

2 January 2020 (v4.45)

Page Title Details
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Added 2020 Costs of the Children Table.
2.6.10 Reason 4 - income of the child Updated 2020 significant income figure.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added September 2019 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
5.2.4 Employer obligations for collection from salary or wages Updated protected earnings amount.