Can I Challenge or Change a Child Support Assessment in Australia?
Life changes — and so can your child support assessment. Whether your income has shifted, your care arrangements have changed, or you believe something wasn’t assessed correctly, it’s important to know that you can challenge or request a review of your child support assessment.
Reasons You Can Request a Change
You may be able to have your child support assessment changed if:
Your income or the other parent’s income has changed significantly
You or the other parent now care for the child more or less often
The original assessment doesn’t consider special circumstances, like:
High costs of caring for a child with a disability
Significant travel costs for contact
Private school fees or medical expenses
A parent earning income that doesn’t show in their tax return (e.g. working cash-in-hand)
How to Request a Change
Contact Services Australia . You can apply for a “change of assessment” by filling out a form or contacting the agency directly through your myGov account.
Provide Evidence. Be ready to explain why the current assessment is unfair or inaccurate. You may need to provide documents like:
Payslips or tax returns
Parenting plans or court orders
Expense receipts (for school, medical, or travel costs)
Wait for Review. Services Australia will contact the other parent, collect their side of the story, and review all the information before making a decision. You’ll both be notified of the outcome.
What If You Disagree with the Outcome?
If you still believe the assessment is unfair after a decision is made, you can:
Lodge an objection (within 28 days of the decision)
Apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if the objection is not resolved to your satisfaction
Fairness Matters
Child support is meant to reflect your current circumstances. If your situation changes — or if the current arrangement isn’t working — you have the right to ask for a fairer assessment. We can help guide you with a child support assessment review.