The Australian Government has recently passed legislation to improve the process and align the rules used for determining care levels for separated parents who are both child support and family assistance customers. These changes were implemented on 1 July 2010.
A copy of the Bill can be found on the COMLAW website.
What is alignment of care?
Previously, the Family Assistance Office (FAO) and the Child Support Agency (CSA) applied different rules to determine the level of care used to calculate family assistance and child support payments.
The alignment of care measure allows a single determination of care, using one set of rules, to be made for both family assistance and child support purposes.
If you are a separated parent, and a customer of both FAO and CSA, you are able to have your care arrangements assessed by just one agency, either the CSA or the FAO. The other agency will simply recognise the change and update your details. This means that parents only have to tell their story once.
Why is the CSA and Family Assistance Office aligning care?
Aligning the rules for determining care between the CSA and the FAO provides greater consistency in decisions about the level of care being provided by parents for customers dealing with both agencies. This is expected to reduce objections and appeals flowing from the separate determinations in each agency.
By aligning the rules for determining care levels, the Government aims to remove the strain put on parents who had to deal with two agencies, and two different sets of rules.
When will the changes be implemented?
These changes apply to all new care determinations made on or after 1 July 2010. The CSA and FAO have made system changes to provide for the automatic transfer of care determinations between each agency from July 2010.
What do I need to do?
You don’t need to do anything. If however you would like to have your percentage of care worked out under the new rules, even if your care arrangements have not changed, you can contact either the CSA or FAO.
Where can I get more information?
Full details of these changes are available on the Family Assistance Office website, calling 13 6150 or asking at your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Medicare Australia office. Alternatively, you can contact the Child Support Agency by visiting the Child Support Agency website or calling 13 1272.
Separated parents will also receive this information in agency newsletters, websites and e-bulletins to ensure they understand the changes.