Correcting errors on Child Support cases 277-09030000

The Child Support Guide 2.9.5: Amending assessments

The Child Support Guide 4.1.1: Overview

The Child Support Guide 4.1.2: Decisions made under the CSA Act to which a parent may object

The Child Support Guide 4.1.3: Decisions made under the CSRC Act to which a parent may object

The Child Support Guide 4.1.4: Can an objection decision be made?

Links to the Federal Register of Legislation site go to a 'Series' page. Select the 'Latest' version.

Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988

• section 15, Delegation
• section 42, Correction of Clerical errors and other mistakes in Child Support Register
• section 80, Objections

Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989

• section 75, Amendment of Assessments
• section 149, Delegations

Child Support Services, Delegations and Authorisations

Simple error

Service Officer (SO3) and above are authorised to make these decisions to correct an error.

Complex error

The following are authorised to make a decision to correct a complex error.

• Service Support Officers (SSO)
• Parent Support and Solutions Gateway Team members (SO5)
• Multicultural and Tailored Services Branch staff Technical (SO6)
• Change of Assessment and Part 6A Internal Decision Makers
• Complex case managers (SO6) in Multicultural and Tailored Services Branch
• Program Support Managers

Note: some complex errors need to be authorised by a specific role.

Decision to not correct an error

Program Support Managers are authorised to make a decision to not correct an error where:

• both parents agree, or
• one parent does not want the error corrected and the other parent is uncontactable

All other decisions to not correct an error can be authorised by the Child Support Program Advice team.

Invalid decisions

New Customer and Mainstream Services Program Support Managers (PSM) are authorised to make certain parentage decisions invalid where an application for assessment has been accepted or refused in error due to the decision maker:

• failing to take account of material evidence such as a birth certificate that was already in agency possession
• denying a customer procedural fairness by making a decision before the expiration of a policy stated time frame
• failing to explore all 9 fact situations that could have satisfied the presumption of parentage provisions
• denying a customer procedural fairness by not consulting them before making the decision
• making a keying error that resulted in the decision being incorrectly refused

All staff in the Child Support Program Advice team are also authorised to make these decisions.

The decision to declare a decision invalid in other circumstances can only be authorised by an Assistant Director in Child Support Program Advice.

Review and alter

Director, Child Support Program Advice, Child Support Program, Program Design Group (for Part 6A decisions). National Manager, Child Support Program, Program Design Group (for all decisions of delegates).