Capacity to pay (CTP) Child Support 277-03130000

Child Support has the authority to initiate a change of assessment (COA) application for customers in certain circumstances. Financial Investigators make recommendations to initiate a COA application if a parent’s income, property or financial resources are not fairly represented in their child support assessment.

Decision Makers (DM) have the authority to change the assessment if they are satisfied the assessment is unfair because of any of these factors. A range of alternative remedies are considered throughout the process. Once a CTP process has begun, both customers’ financial circumstances are investigated equally to determine if a change to the assessment is recommended.

CTP has been identified as a function that may assist Services Australia reach the goals set out in the Family and Domestic Violence Strategy.

An identified customer/case may be referred to CTP through the referral guidelines if the customer has grounds under reason 8A and are not willing to make a COA application themselves for fear of family and domestic violence (FDV). Cases referred to case selection are assessed on merit before proceeding to CTP for a full review. While the standard CTP process applies to these cases, a Financial Investigator will be mindful and sensitive to the circumstances of the customers and discuss any concerns with the team leader. Customers who proceed through the CTP process will have their financial situation reviewed and if an application is made by the registrar to COA, normal COA processes will apply, including open exchange of information (OEI).

Financial Investigators

• conduct CTP investigations
• make CTP recommendations

CTP Team Leaders

Approve:

• CTP recommendations
• section 98M letters
• manually generated system letters