Minimum assessments
A minimum amount is payable for each child support assessment.
Paying parents who receive income support, have less than regular care of their child and whose income is less than the self-support amount will pay the minimum payment of
$6.82* per week per family. The minimum rate of child support is indexed annually and you’ll be advised in writing of the new amount.
Call us on 131 272 if you start receiving income support or return to work.
If you are on income support and have regular care of your child
If you have at least regular care of your child (14 per cent of the time, which is at least 52 nights a year), you don’t need to pay the minimum to that family because you already meet some of the child’s costs directly through care.
If you are on income support and pay two or more child support assessments
If you pay child support to more than one receiving family, you will pay the minimum amount of
$6.82* per week per assessment. This ensures that children won’t miss out because of a parent’s other child support cases.
If you pay child support to more than three families, the total amount you’ll pay will be limited to three times the minimum amount,
$20.46* per week, which will be divided equally between the families.
Returning to work
To help parents move from income support to work, the minimum payment of child support can continue for 28 days after you return to work. After 28 days, your child support will be reassessed to take into account your higher income.
If you owe child support
If you have an outstanding child support amount, or pay child support to more than one ex-partner, we can deduct three times the minimum payment amount from your income support payment. This can continue until all the child support you owe is recovered, or for any period while you pay child support. You can call us on 131 272 to discuss options available to you about these deductions.