Assessments for parents with second families
If you have children from a new family, we reflect this in your assessment.
When we work out the income to calculate your child support payments we can deduct an amount to support any relevant dependent children. These are children other than the ones in your child support case.
We can do this for either parent. We can’t do it if the child is part of another child support case.
Who can be a relevant dependent child
The child must be in your care for at least 128 nights a year.
They can be either your:
- biological child
- adopted child
- stepchild if a court order says you have a duty to maintain them
- child from artificial conception - you and the other parent were married or in a de facto relationship at the time of conception and you consented to the artificial conception procedure
- child from a surrogacy arrangement.
Your relevant dependent child amount
We work this out using the costs of children table and your child support income amount.
We only consider your income – not your partner’s.
Stepchildren
You can apply to change your assessment in special circumstances if you’re caring for your stepchild and both of the following apply:
- neither legal parent can financially support the child
- you pay child support for any other children.
Your reason for applying is reason 10.
Page last updated: 15 August 2019
This information was printed 6 March 2021 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/child-support/child-support-assessment/how-we-work-out-your-assessment/assessments-parents-second-families. It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/site-notices when using this material.