Minimum annual rate to nil - Reducing child support assessments 277-03100000

Policy

The Child Support Guide 2.4.4: Child support income

The Child Support Guide 2.4.12: Minimum annual rate

The Child Support Guide 6.2.1: Information need not be in writing

Legislation

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Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989

• section 66: Minimum rate of child support
• section 66A: Registrar may reduce an assessment to nil in certain cases
• section 66B: Amendment of assessment made under section 65B or 66A
• section 66C: Notice to be given to unsuccessful applicant
• section 118(1): Orders that may be made under division

Child Support (Assessment) Regulations 2018, Section 13, Prescribed payments

Delegations and authorisations

The authorisation for reducing a minimum assessment to nil is at the Service Officer 3 level. This does not prevent an officer at the Service Officer 2 level who has the support of their team leader from carrying out this type of work. This is as long as the final decision to either accept or refuse the application is made by an officer at the Service Officer 3 level or above.

The authorisation for the decision to amend an assessment by no longer applying the RMA (from 1 July 2008) is at the Service Officer 3 level for staff in:

• Specialised Assessment Services
• Income Reconciliation Program, and
• Incarcerated teams

For all other staff, the authorisation for the decision to amend an assessment by no longer applying the RMA (from 1 July 2008) is at the Service Officer 4 level.

For more information, see Child Support Services Delegations and Authorisations.