Collection 277-04000000
Expand allThis document outlines content relevant to child support collection.
Government intent
The Child Support Scheme was formed to assist separated parents to take responsibility for the financial support of their children. The Child Support Registrar administers the Child Support Scheme, which was introduced by the Australian Government in 1988.
On 1 July 2011, the Australian Government Department of Human Services began delivering the services and payments provided previously by the Child Support Agency, Medicare Australia, Centrelink and the then Family Assistance Office. Child Support became a service delivery brand within the department.
On 1 February 2020, the Department of Human Services transitioned to become the Australian Government agency Services Australia. This did not change the operation of the Child Support Scheme.
The Child Support Scheme involves the assessment of child support in accordance with a formula as well as the collection and enforcement of court orders, child support agreements and child support assessments.
Contents
Establish Child Support account balance
Income Support Payment (ISP) concession for Centrelink deductions
Application for child support to be collected
Bankruptcy for Child Support Customers
Business Structures and Financial Statements for Child Support debt recovery
Centrelink deductions used to collect Child Support debts
Centrelink - Child Support information exchange
Collecting child support payments privately and/or discharging arrears
Collection of child support debts through third parties (s72A and s72AC)
Customer Management Approach (CMA) for Child Support
Direct requests for information from Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Departure Prohibition Orders (DPO) for Child Support customers
Employer Withholding (linking) for Child Support customers
Employer Withholding (EW) - Election for EW no to apply
Manual cash reconciliation for Child Support payments - Payment Services team
Employer withholding reconciliation and top up
Employer/Organisation debt repayment
Employers that have gone into liquidation
Recovering a Child Support debt from a Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
Child Support's information gathering powers
Non-pursuit of individual Child Support debts
Non pursuit of employer Child Support debts
Child support overpayments and other payee debt
Penalties for Child Support debts
Reassign or transfer a missing or incorrectly receipted child support payment
Recovery of debts by customers in court
Register Initiated Private Collect (RIPC)
Suspension of Child Support liability on reconciliation
Tax Refund Intercept Process (TRIP) exceptions
Excess cash on a Child Support customer's account