Online estimator options 133-04120000

Customers do not need to have an online account to access the online estimators.

Customers can launch the estimators from the Online estimators page on the Services Australia website:

• Payment and Service Finder. Customers can also access this service from their Centrelink online account homepage by:
• selecting the left menu item Payments and claims, then Claims
• selecting Payment and Service Finder
• Compensation. Customers can also access this service from their Centrelink online account homepage by selecting:
• MENU, then Payments and claims, then Manage payments, then
• Estimate if compensation will change your payments
• Child support estimator. See the Child support estimator table
• Child support care estimator. See the Child support care estimator table

If using Customer First, select Customer Online Account > Payment and Service Finder from the Workspace options.

A new page will open. It will tell the customer:

• what the child support estimator can do and cannot do
• important details about using the service

Select Next to continue.

The Child Support Estimator will need basic details about the customer and the other parent. If the customer does not know some of the other parent's details, the estimate will be incorrect.

On Parent details screen the customer will need to supply the following:

• given names for themselves and other parent
• how many children they wish to estimate child support for
• whether or not the customer has any other dependent children, if so, how many
• whether or not the other parent has any other dependent children, if so, how many
• whether or not the other parent has two or more child support assessments

When the customer provides the above, they can select Next to continue.

The system will take into account a broad range of income for both parents to work out child support payments. The customer will need to provide the following annual income amounts for themselves and the other parent, for the last completed financial year:

• Taxable income
• Reportable fringe benefits
• Total net investment loss
• Specified tax-free pensions and benefits
• Target foreign income
• Reportable superannuation contributions
• Adjustable taxable income
• Income Support Payments - the customer will also need to indicate if they or the other parent received any income support payments during the last completed financial year. For example, Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker Payment. For a full list, see the Family Assistance Guide

When the customer provides the above, they can select Next to continue.

To help calculate an estimate of child support payments, the child support estimator will need:

• the care arrangements for the child support children
• any other dependent children in the customer's care or the other parent's care

Customers will need to provide the following for each child they want a calculation for:

• Child's name
• Date of birth
• Nights of care and Frequency of care (for example, weekly, monthly, yearly)

When the customer provides the above, they can select Estimate child support.

Using the details the customer provides, the service will calculate an estimate. This will show on the screen for the customer. It will also explain how the system, calculates the estimate.

The customer will need to expand each step to view the formula used.

Customers can try a number of different values based on 'what if' scenarios by selecting Next.

When financial circumstances change, it is possible that child support assessments will also change. The customer will be able to modify a number of values to estimate the impact on their child support. For example, income and children in care.

When a customer changes their answers, they can select Re-estimate child support.

The new estimate of child support will display at the bottom of the screen.

A new page will open. It will tell the customer about the child support care estimator and how to use it.

This page will ask the customer to enter:

• care period start date
• frequency of care. This includes the option to select recurring care or selecting care dates on the calendar provided

The care estimator will calculate and show the:

• total nights of care
• care percentage, and
• care level

Estimating care percentages for children with different care levels

The care estimator can estimate the care levels for children with the same care levels.

The customer will need to use the care estimator for each child who has a different care arrangement.