Child support overpayments and other payee debt 277-04260000

Overpayments occur when a payee receives funds they were not entitled. This occurs when:

• a person is paid amounts that exceed the amount they are entitled to (carer debt). This includes when liability has been retrospectively changed, or
• a person is paid amounts in error and is required to pay the amounts back

A person who has overpaid may choose:

• whether or not the amount overpaid is to be recovered
• enforce recovery privately in a court

Child Support can recover overpayments through administrative enforcement powers, and if needed, by litigation and court action.

Amounts recovered will be returned to a person after the amounts is received, and there are no other amounts payable.

Overpayments arising after 1 July 2018 (15 May 2019 for WA ex-nuptial cases) are recoverable, unless:

• a decision results in the liability ending from or before the start date
• the payer of a liability ceased to be a resident of Australia or a reciprocating jurisdiction. Note: this is a terminating event that will not end the liability from the start date

Overpayments arising before 1 July 2018 (15 May 2019 for WA ex-nuptial cases) are recoverable based on the specific criteria used at the time. Do not change decisions already made on these overpayments.