Child Support objection received out of time – Extension of time and Special Circumstance application 277-09170060

A customer can ask for an extension of time to lodge an objection:

• verbally, or
• in writing

They can do this when they lodge the objection or after the objection is made.

Objections to care percentage decisions with date of event on or after 1 July 2010 (3 March 2011 for WA ex-nups) are not subject to the extension of time rules that apply to all other objections. See Creating an objection record table for information about recording a ‘special circumstances’ application.

Child Support can determine that special circumstances prevented the customer from lodging an objection or requesting a review with Centrelink within the relevant timeframe.

Examples of special circumstances may include that the parent:

• was seriously ill or had an accident that stopped them from lodging an objection
• suffered a personal trauma such as a death in the family or a natural disaster that caused damage to the parent’s property
• had communication difficulties because of, or including, isolation, illiteracy or poor English-language skills
• reasonably relied upon inaccurate or misleading information

General Objections Service Officer (SO4) and (SO5)

To consider and either grant or refuse applications for extensions of time to object to decisions

Part 6A Objections Service Officer (SO6)

As per Service Officers SO4 and SO5 above