How do I get child support?

A mathematical formula is used to figure out how much child support should be paid. This is called a ‘child support assessment.’

For an estimate of how much will need to be paid, see the Child Support Online Estimator.

If you think the child support assessment is unfair because it does not take into account special circumstances in your case, you should contact Child Support to discuss this. They may be able to change how much is paid.
Get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA and call Child Support on 131 272 as soon as you can.

Also see what if my or the other parent’s circumstances change?

If your children are spending most of their time living with you, it’s up to you to apply for child support.

If you are scared to apply for child support because of domestic and family violence, you should get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.

You can talk to a Centrelink social worker about a child support exemption so your Family Tax Benefit doesn’t get reduced. See what can I do if I have experienced domestic and family violence and am scared to ask the other parent for child support.

If you receive Centrelink benefits, you must apply for child support from the other parent. If you receive Family Tax Benefits, you will continue to receive this for 13 weeks after you separate.

If you haven’t applied for Child Support, after 13 weeks, your ‘Family Tax Benefit A’ will be reduced to the base level.

It’s important to apply as soon as you can after you separate because you will be paid from the date you apply (Child Support won’t back-date it to when you separated).

Child Support will only accept an application for child support if you can prove that the other parent is a biological or adoptive parent of your child or, in some cases, a former same-sex partner.

Child Support will accept that a person is a parent if for example ― they are named on the child’s birth certificate or the parents were married to each other when the child was born.

If you’re not sure if you can prove that the other person is a parent, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.

Child Support can collect child support for you. They can do this by taking money from the other parent’s wages or tax refunds or by starting court action against them.

If you are still scared to apply for child support against the other parent, you should get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA. You can talk to a Centrelink social worker about getting an exemption.

An exemption means you do not have to apply for child support from the other parent. If you are getting Family Tax Benefits, this means your benefits will not be reduced, but you won’t get any child support payments.

You cannot be back-paid child support from the other parent if you get the exemption and later decide you do want to start claiming child support.

If you are getting the exemption and no longer have fears for your safety, you should to speak to Child Support about the other parent starting to pay you.

To see if you are eligible for the exemption get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA, speak to a Centrelink social worker. You can go to your local service centre, or call 136 150 and ask to speak with a social worker.

If Child Support makes a child support assessment, you can ask them to collect the money from the other parent for you.

Otherwise, you can arrange to privately collect the money from the other parent. If the other parent stops paying you, you will need to get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA about how to chase the unpaid money yourself.

If you are collecting the money privately, you can change your mind and ask Child Support to start collecting payments for you instead.
For more information, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.

The amount of child support paid to a parent can be changed when circumstances change.

Changes could include things like:

• a change in one parent’s income
• the birth of a new child
• changes to the care arrangements for your children
• things like extra costs for caring for your children―for example, for an expensive school or health care costs.

It is important to let Child Support know as soon as possible if your circumstances change. Call Child Support on 131 272 to discuss your options.

It’s also a good idea to get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA because there are time limits for taking action and objecting to a decision by Child Support.

For more information, see resources.

Parents can make agreements called ‘child support agreements’ or ‘private agreements’ about child support.

These agreements set out in writing how much and how often one parent will pay child support to the other parent.

It is important that you get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA before you make a child support agreement. They are difficult to change later and can sometimes disadvantage the parent who has the children living with them most of the time.

Child Support must tell you in writing about most decisions it makes about your case. If you think Child Support are wrong, you can object and ask for a review of the decision.

You must object in writing no later than 28 days after the decision is delivered to your address. If you are out of time, you will need a reason why you are late. If you want to object, get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.

• Department of Human Services – Child Support Estimator
• Department of Human Services – Basic 8 step formula
• Department of Human Services – Parent’s Guide to Child Support
• Legal Aid NSW – Taking Action to Question Paternity
• Legal Aid NSW – Applying for leave to change your assessment

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