By
Sheila Bird
CHILD
support is linked with a range of emotional, financial and legal
issues that separated people have to deal with.
It affects two things of great importance to most people – children
and money. Ideally, people would like a child-support system to
be perfectly straightforward.
Unfortunately the system cannot be that simple and still suit
every individual’s needs, as it must take into account a diverse
range of people and circumstances. The Child Support Scheme (CSS)
balances these complexities to make it as easy as possible for
clients to navigate the system.
There is no question that service in the ADF is unique and Permanent
and Reserve personnel make commitments that people in most other
work areas don’t. The Child Support Agency (CSA) recognises these
commitments and there is scope within the CSS to accommodate them.
However, this does not mean Defence personnel are exempt from
adhering to the basic principle of the scheme – financial support
of their children.
A common question for CSA is, “Why can tax-free money be considered
in child-support assessments, which are supposed to be based on
taxable income?”.
When a child-support liability is calculated under the child-support
formula, tax-free salary and allowances such as Reserve pay are
not taken into account.
The same applies for non-reportable fringe benefits, such as RA
and other forms of housing assistance. That situation can change
if the parent receiving child support (the payee) applies for
a change of assessment.
Assessment change allows both parents to have the amount of child
support reviewed without going to the trouble and expense of taking
the matter to court, as was required before CSA was established.
Some of the benefits and allowances mentioned can be taken into
account in an assessment-change decision; any expenses relating
to those allowances will also be taken into account. Change of
assessment applications are reviewed by senior case officers (SCOs)
experienced in family law.
The SCO will make a decision based on the needs of the children
and the circumstances of both parents. The change process allows
for both parents to provide extensive information on their capacity
to financially support their children.
CSA will continue to work closely with organisations such as the
DCO and Defence Families Australia to balance the special needs
of service personnel with the requirements of the CSS.
In mid 2000, CSA and DCO ran a successful pilot scheme at Puckapunyal
to better support separated parents and to assist DCO in helping
parents with childsupport cases.
We now provide information sessions and guest speakers at Randwick,
Singleton and RAAF Base Williamtown, with sessions in other areas
to follow.
This year CSA and DCO are piloting another project, at RAAF Base
Williamtown, aimed at helping separated parents stay connected
with their kids.
If members have questions on CSS and how it’s administered, they
can visit www.csa.gov.au
Sheila Bird is CSA’s Assistant General Manager.
