The Australian Government believes the new Child Support System is fair. They say it better for both paying parents and receiving parents. I can say that from both sides it is far from being a fair system. I can completely understand why so many parents leave their jobs and go on government support.
How do I know? Well, not only am I a single mum who does NOT receive child support for my child. I also pay child support for my children who live with their father.
My understanding of how child support works.
They take both your taxable incomes and give you both the same amount for living expenses. Around $17,000 - $18,000. This is your money they can't touch on both sides. Then they look at dependents and their ages. As a payer, I have one dependant & he's 6 years old, they give me around $2,000 for him. They look at my ex's dependants (my children I'm paying child support for) and also give him a percentage that can't be touched. After this split, they look at what's left, add what's left and what the percentage of the gross of both is and that's the percentage you pay.
That's all good and well. Can you see it. My ex gets the same this bit is safe for you for the kids, then he gets more from me on top of it. I don't get the same for the child that lives with me. My ex has income that is not taxable, therefore not reportable, therefore it doesn't get taken into account in the wages/taxable income when doing the calculations. It doesn't take into effect your personal circumstances, where you live, the cost of living in the specific areas around Australia. Doesn't take into effect lots of other circumstances that could effect every single paying and recieving parent.
This system is far from being fair. How can it be fair when the child that's living with me, doesn't get the same treatment as the children I'm paying for. This system is simply a way of making life even harder. The Australian Government has not listened to us. They have once again shown us that the people do not have a say, they will do what they want.
totally agree and I was only a recipient of child support and worked out that with what my ex had to pay he was left without enough money to enjoy a beer let alone go out and meet another woman. The system sucks. Once again the government ha=s gone from one extreme of where non-custodial parents paid nothing if they chose not to and now live below the poverty line
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