Child support payments and care arrangements

There are rules that affect how changes to care arrangements apply to child support assessments. They apply when we’re told about a change more than 28 days after it occurred.

You must tell us as soon as possible if care arrangements change. If you don’t, you may get a debt or a child support overpayment.

Read more about how your percentage of care affects your child support payments.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A and child support

There is a close link between child support payments and FTB. Any child support you pay or get may affect the amount of FTB you get.

If care arrangements change for your child, we may need to change your:

• care percentage
• child support
• FTB payments.

We’ll apply any changes regardless of whether:

• you collect child support privately
• we collect and transfer it for you.

Use our online estimators to see how changes in care arrangements may affect your FTB and child support.

Read more about child support and your FTB Part A.

How to tell us if your child’s care arrangements change

There are different ways to tell us if your child’s care arrangements change. This depends on your situation. You may need to give us evidence to support the change in circumstances.

If you only have a Child Support case

If your Child Support online account is linked to myGov sign in now to tell us about changes to your circumstances.

Sign in to myGov

You can also tell us using either:

• the Express Plus Child Support mobile app
• the Child Support enquiry line.

You can use the Child Support care estimator to help you work out your level of care.

If you only get FTB

You can tell us by either:

• calling us on the families line
• completing and returning Details of your child’s care arrangements form (FA012).

You can use the care arrangement calendar to help you work out your level of care. You can return this with the completed Details of your child’s care arrangements form (FA012) or separately if needed.

If you have a Child Support case and get FTB

You can tell either Child Support or Centrelink. You only need to tell one.

If your Child Support online account is linked to myGov you can tell us online.

Sign in to myGov

You can also tell us using either:

• the Express Plus Child Support mobile app
• the Child Support enquiry line.

You can use the Child Support care estimator to help you work out your level of care.

You can tell Centrelink by completing and returning a Details of your child’s care arrangements form (FA012).

You can use the care arrangement calendar to help you work out your level of care. You can return this with the completed Details of your child’s care arrangements form (FA012) or separately if needed.

You can also call us on the families line.

Medicare and care arrangements

If care arrangements change for a child, you may also need to update the details with Medicare.

Register or change Medicare details for you or your family using the:

• Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another form
• Medicare Safety Net Registrations and Amendment for Couples and Families form.