Hello!

Recently I have received 2 payments from child support of $400ish which has taken the amount owed by my ex to zero. He normally pays $30 a month which is direct debited from his account on centrelink payday unless he can get the money out before they can take it. As far as we know and child support know he’s not working and has told them he won’t work because it means he has to pay more child support for his 4 kids (all to different mums). I know he couldn’t afford to pay the 2 larger amounts that I received through child support as they are more than one fortnightly centrelink payment, and if I got 2 larger payments than his other exs more thank likely got larger payments to clear his debts to them too. I am wondering if anyone else has got 2 larger unexpected payments from child support and if they know where the money comes from?


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  • Perhaps they recovered it from something like a tax return. Probably just be happy you’ve got money that you no doubt need!


  • I would pay a visit to Centrelink as opposed to phoning them.


  • My brother has to pay child support and apparently they are linked to other Government agencies such as Centrelink so it is best to ring them and ask them to assess your circumstance so you get the most benefit and try and deal with one good helpful consultant .


  • Yes call child support and asking them is best!


  • Maybe you should call child support and asking them?


  • Maybe he is working and hasn’t let child support know? The money must have been in his account for them to take it and give it to you, so he’s doing something that’s making money. Good luck with future payments, disgusting how men walk away and refuse to contribute to their kids health and well being :/


  • It doesn’t matter where it comes from – might have organised a loan, an inheritance, a job, or tax return. Wages and bonuses can be garnished, a new girlfriend could have paid for him, who knows. Just enjoy your money! Good luck


  • These situations are all so personal and no two cases are the same… best to put aside half a day to spend on the phone to centerlink for the right answers…


  • I agree it’s probably to do with his tax refund :)


  • Department of Human Services (Child Support) will be able to provide you some information, as long as it doesn’t breach his privacy. It seems liklely that if it is such a large amount (proportionately split across all 5 children’s mothers) then at this time of the year it is possibly a tax refund of some sort.


  • yes it could have something to do with tax etc. like they might have withheld some payment and/or only payed you half of what you were entitled to until it was sorted. He made have overestimated/underestimated his income and therefore owed you payments or centrelink owed you payments. You pay takes into account what child support amount he pays you. If there has been debts etc, it might have to do with that. I would jump online onto your c’link acc and see if this explains anything to you or give them a call.


  • I would be ringing child support and asking them


  • Best to get advice and written information from Centrelink.


  • Was it a goverment payment or child suport and does you kid attend daycare at all. I am nott a single mum but i got some back pay due to the difference in rebates not long ago. this was about $300. . It is also possible that when he had to lodge a tax return they divided it to the mums of the kids and not to him. You could always ring up to ask them also if you have a my gov account you could log in and check the details on the payment. They usually give a good description of why money was paid.


  • Best thing you can do is ring child support and find out where the payments came from, you dont want to be spending money that may have accidently been put into your account. its best to get the right advise from the source and not from strangers :)


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