Qualifying payments

Liable parents may be able to have some or all of their child support liability offset in recognition of qualifying payments having been made for the child's direct benefit.

Qualifying payments are payments made by or on behalf of the liable parent to a person for goods and services that directly benefit the child. An example would be the payment of school fees for the child.

Conditions exist for the recognition of a qualifying payment. These are where:

• child support is paid on time and there is no outstanding debt
• the liable parent does not qualify for shared care
• the liable parent and the receiving carer agree on the qualifying payment
• the receiving carer is not a social security beneficiary
• the qualifying payment is at least 10% of the child support liability for the child, and
• the liable parent does not have at least 28% care of the child.