Myths about the Child Support Agency

Yes you will. Before we calculate child support payments an amount for supporting yourself is taken into account. This self support amount is the same for each parent and helps make sure you can still pay for things like food and accommodation after separation.

If you get a second job or work overtime to get extra money after separation that will help you rebuild your life, you can ask that it not be included when we calculate child support. We can rule out this extra money for three years.

Having the extra money will help you with stuff like buying a new car, setting up a new home, and purchasing items to support the children while they are with you (in your care).

Use our child support estimator to work out around how much child support you may receive or pay.

The law says we have to give you and the other parent all of the information that we use to work out how much child support needs to be paid. This is so you and your ex can see how we worked out the amount of child support. This information may include some of your details such as your income but any other personal details such as your phone number or address won't be given to the other parent or anyone else who asks for them.

Child support and family assistance are closely linked so we might share some of your details with Centrelink to make sure that you get the right family assistance payment or single parent pension. We may also give your information to other government agencies in some circumstances.

To find out how to register.

If you are separated and are thinking of applying for family assistance, you have to register with us first before you can receive family assistance payments.

To find out more about family assistance go to www.familyassist.gov.au or www.centrelink.gov.au or call 136 150 or visit your local Family Assistance Office.

There are many organisations that are available to help you, depending on what you need advice about. Family Relationship Centres are a good place to start. They can help with:

• Child support
• Children's contact services
• Counselling
• Dispute resolution
• Effective communication
• Family mediation
• Family violence
• Finances
• Grandparents
• Living arrangements
• Parenting after separation
• Parenting orders
• Parenting plans
• Relationship education and skills training
• Re-partnering

The Community Services Directory can also provide further contact details for people who can help with concerns about finance, housing, legal, domestic violence and other counselling services. The directory lists government and community support services in your local area.

You may be interested in looking at our separation resources page.

We only get heavily involved if the paying parent is not paying child support. We will ring to see if you need more time or why you are struggling to keep up with payments.

The CSA aims to make it easy for separated parents to support their children and meet their child support responsibilities. Most parents want to do the right thing, however some need extra support, education and advice to pay their child support in full and on time.

When a parent does not meet their responsibilities, the CSA has an obligation to work with them to achieve the best outcome for their children and both parents.

To avoid us calling about child support, parents are encouraged to pay on time and in full. If you have trouble paying your child support call us on 131 272 now before the debt gets out of control. We may be able to help you find a solution. A parenting plan can help you stay on track.

If you avoid paying child support we are able to take money from tax returns and bank accounts to help your children. We can also take it from your Centrelink benefit if you have a child support debt and are on income support.

CSA supports separated parents with many other aspects of separation - we don't just focus on enforcing payments. You may be interested in looking at our separation resources page.

The CSA transfers child support payments between you and the other parent for the benefit of your children. It is a free service and we don't keep any of the money transferred.

Staff has been trained to respect and treat all customers including you. All our customers are treated equally no matter what age, sex or background they come from.

Most of our staff has completed cultural awareness training. In the training our staff learnt about the struggles of the Stolen Generation and why there was mistrust in the past between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the government. Our commitment to you outlines what you can expect from us and the guiding principles we use to support the delivery of the Government's Child Support Scheme.

Last year we spoke to some of our Indigenous customers to understand their concerns and find ways to improve the way we deliver our services. We now have information especially for our Indigenous customers and you can also ask to speak to one of our Indigenous officers if it makes you feel more comfortable. We hold information sessions regularly around Australia in a range of locations. For a list of upcoming sessions, check our website.

We will also be out and about again for NAIDOC so come and talk to us.

There are options available to you. You can work with CSA to submit a Change of Assessment form if your circumstances have changed, apply for non-agency payments or if we have made a decision and you do not agree, you may be able to object or go to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.