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Transferring child support payments
The Child Support Agency collects and transfers child support payments between each parent, or to non-parent carers.
Child support payments can also be transferred privately between yourselves if both parents agree to do this. You can collect and transfer child support between yourselves, whether you have a Child Support Agency formula assessment or a private child support agreement.
When to get the Child Support Agency to transfer payments
It may be better for the Child Support Agency to collect your child support if the payer:- does not have a good payment history
- is not likely to pay.
Transferring child support between yourselves is not recommended if:
- there has been family violence
- tax returns have not been lodged or are usually lodged very late.
It is also not recommended if you think the other parents’ income used in the assessment may not be correct. If the assessment is corrected later and you have not have been paid the full child support amount, the Child Support Agency cannot collect the amount owed if you have a private collection arrangement. You will be responsible for recovering this money.
When to make private arrangements
If the payer is likely to pay on time and pay the right amount, then using either option may be suitable for you. Get legal advice before entering into a private arrangement.
If parents have their own collection arrangements, Centrelink will assume that the person being paid is receiving the amount of child support stated in the assessment and calculate their entitlement to Family Tax Benefit Part A based on this.
If payments are not made
If you have a private arrangement and child support payments are not made, the Child Support Agency can be asked to start collecting the payments.
If this applies to you, act quickly. The Child Support Agency can only collect payments owed to you (‘arrears’) for the past three months. In special cases, you may receive arrears up to nine months.
Lump sum payments
The Child Support Agency cannot collect or transfer lump sum payments or other kinds of payments. The law is changing about lump sum payments. Get legal advice before making any agreements about paying or receiving child support in a lump sum.
More information
Child support formula assessment
Family Tax Benefit and child support
Related publications
Child support and parentage testing
You and family law: a short guide
Related websites
How we can help
Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.
VLA's Roundtable Dispute Management service has trained dispute resolution practitioners. The service can help people reach agreements together about the children. See Resolving family disputes.
VLA’s other free legal services include:
- free contravention workshops about how to prepare a contravention application and represent yourself if your former partner breaching (disobeying) court orders
- legal advice at VLA offices and other locations across Victoria – see Child support legal services
- lawyers who are on ‘duty’ to help at many courts and tribunals.
For some matters we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.
To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.
Who else can help
Some community legal centre (CLC) have specialist child support services. Most CLC services are free. See the Community Law website for more information and CLC contact details.