Child Support covers expenses for children such as food, housing, clothes, school costs and other activities. Parents are otherwise generally required to each bear the costs of raising their children when they are in their care.
There are no set rules or regulations as to what child support payments can and cannot be used for in Australia. Ordinarily, the amount might be used to cover expenses involved with raising a child, such as food, clothing, housing, medical costs, school costs, and other activity-related costs.
Child support as assessed by the Child Support Agency formula is meant to cover all expenses for children including food, housing, schooling, clothing and extra-curricular activities.
How much you pay. The fixed rate for child support periods starting on or after 1 January 2023 is $1,632 per child per year. If you pay the fixed rate for more than 3 children, we'll cap the amount at 3 times the fixed rate.
In Australia shared custody means that the non-residential parent pays child support to the residential parent. In the case of a 50/50 split, the higher earner usually pays child support to the lower earner to ensure the children's standard of living is the same in both locations.
12% of your gross weekly income for one child. 16% of your gross weekly income for two children. 19% of your gross weekly income for three or more children.
In most cases, the payment of school fees is separate to that of child maintenance payments.
IF I PAY CHILD SUPPORT, DO I STILL HAVE TO BUY MY KIDS CLOTHES? THE SHORT ANSWER IS, YES.
2. What is the maximum child support in Australia? You can calculate the maximum child support amount using the combined income of both parents, up to 2.5 times the annual equivalent of the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings, as well as the Costs of Children Table.
2. It's unfair to hard-working parents. Australia's child support formula is generally unfair to parents who earn a good income. Every dollar that's given to one parent because they have a lower income is a dollar taken from the main financial contributor.
The parent caring for the child will know, and it is commonly accepted amongst family lawyers and Judges that the amount paid in child maintenance does not stretch that far. Things such as school uniforms, school trips and extra-curricular activities are not classed as 'basic needs'.
Child support may cover the costs of childcare expenses such as daycare services, babysitters, nannies, or other childcare costs and fees. This is the case if one or both parents are unable to care for their child due to time constraints with work.
Normally child support stops when your child turns 18. If your child's in secondary study, you can apply to extend it to the end of the school year.
For the 2021-22 financial year, it's a payment of up to $788.40 for each eligible child. For the 2022-23 financial year, it's a payment of up to $817.60 for each eligible child.
Prescribed extraordinary payments. If one parent does not agree a payment was made for child support, some payments can still be credited in instalments and are called prescribed extraordinay payments. The types of payments that can be credited are: child care costs. school fees, uniform and books.
Maintenance payments are intended to be used in the best interest of the child and to cover the child's expenses. This may include shelter, food, clothing, childcare costs and any educational needs.
That is because the Child Maintenance Service don't look at what the child maintenance is for (for example, to help pay the mortgage, gas, electricity and food bills as well as to pay for the school uniform, haircuts and all the other child related expenditure that parents incur).
Generally speaking the obligation to pay maintenance is not suspended whilst you have the children for holiday periods and certainly where maintenance is paid pursuant to a Court Order or an assessment by the CSA.
Unfortunately, the answer is usually “no”. If the non-resident parent is paying child maintenance in accordance with the relevant child maintenance guidelines, there is no obligation on them to provide additional financial support to cover the cost of clubs and other activities.
Child support is not meant to compensate for your share of holiday presents. If your family celebrates the holidays this time of year, you and your ex-spouse must determine how much to spend on gifts.
If you have shared care for at least 52 nights a year, you don't need to pay any child maintenance.
How long do I have to pay child maintenance for? Child maintenance payments usually stop when children reach the age of 16. However, if the child is in full-time approved education, it may stay in place until they reach the age of 20.
The CMS can't take more than 40% of your net income. Your net income is the money left after you've paid tax and National Insurance.
On the basic rate, if you're paying for: one child, you'll pay 12% of your gross weekly income. two children, you'll pay 16% of your gross weekly income. three or more children, you'll pay 19% of your gross weekly income.