Here's what to expect if you pay or receive child support under a voluntary agreement or formula assessment.
The 1st payment
Once we accept a child support application or agreement, we send notices to each parent and receiving carer showing who should pay and how much.
The paying (liable) parent has 30 days to make the first monthly payment. Once we receive it, we'll pass it on promptly to the receiving carer.
If the paying parent is new to child support, in most cases their employer will deduct payments from their wages. Read about how to make payments as a paying parent.
Ongoing payments
Payments are due to us by the 20th of the following month. If we're paid on time, we pass these on to the receiving carer by the 23rd of each month.
For example, April payments are due to us by 20 May, and passed on to the receiving carer by 23 May.
| Month | Date we will issue payment |
|---|---|
| April | 23 May 2025 |
| May | 23 June 2025 |
| June | 23 July 2025 |
| July | 21 August 2025 |
| August | 23 September 2025 |
| September | 22 October 2025 |
| October | 21 November 2025 |
| November | 23 December 2025 |
Missed or overdue payments
We can only pay the receiving carer what the paying parent has paid us. If we are paid late or the payment is not made in full, the receiving carer will also be paid late or not in full.
Missed payments need to be caught up as soon as possible. Find out what to do if you're behind with payments, whether paying or receiving.
Overdue payments for paying parents
Missed payments for receiving carers
Changes to payments
If child support is reassessed and goes up, the paying parent generally gets 30 days from the date we send the reassessment letter to pay the increased amount.
Read about different reasons why your payments might change unexpectedly, and when you need to tell us about changes to your own circumstances.
Why child support payments may change
Changes to family, job and income