Centrelink FTB and CS estimates....

Im not sure if anyone can help me and Im not sure if I should call CSA or CL. I tried CL but they are engaged at this hour of the day.

So my question is this.

FTB is directly impacted by the amount of CS that is paid and reduced accordingly. What happens to FTB when a CS estimate is put in making the FTB rate maximum... and then a CS reconciliation is done, reducing the amount of FTB that should be paid both now and in the previous financial assessment period... Will this create an arrears of overpayment in FTB for me because the ex has been doing the shifty trying to avoid his obligations? Is there any way to buffer that? :(

Its a curly question so Im not sure if anyone will understand or know the answer to that one, but I was thinking about it today and since I cant get through thought I would try picking some others brains.

Thanks.

can you change the estimate through centrelink to a number you think is more accurate - if you overestimate what you think then you should get it back at tax time/when reconciliation s done.

***my knowledge re cs is minimal so hopefully someone else will have more info

It would make an arrears I would think. Because you have been over paid by centre link through the FTB. But then shouldn't you also get a top up of child support as well

I'm guessing there would be an arrears, but I'd say it'll just come out of your supplement payments, rather than you having to pay it back. But that means he owes you for the past 11 months doesn't it? You can't have been over paid if he wasn't paying, & if they're not going to make him back pay you, then you shouldn't have to back pay c'link.
Do CS collect for you?


I'm confused :lol:

In theory it all works wonderfully... in theory lol.

Hoti - I dont have an estimate in place through CL as I report any earnings fortnightly and everything is adjusted automatically.

Cat - Thanks, I think it will too. :(

Clover he doesnt owe me for the last assessment period as its based on his estimate... therefore assumed to be correct. However if it gets reconciled and he was earning more when he does his tax return then yes, that will create a debt for the past assessment period that the estimate was in place for through CSA. That however, doesnt make him pay the arrears :rolleyes:. But from what Im reading, I will still gain a FTB debt. Thank goodness for supplements? :shakehead:

He has had tax returns ceased in the past, but Im not sure that it was done at the same time as reconciliation as I think that its a new system in place since his last estimate. (It took 3 years for them to reconcile the last one, Im told now its done automatically, so who knows). So it could be that the FTB supplement pays the debt I accrue and I have an arrears waiting to be collected of the reconciled amounts from CSA.

CS is set to collect. He is in arrears for two months though... so less than a whole $5 :rofl: Will try calling them again tomorrow and see what I might be looking at and if the supplement will definately cover it.

it depends on how the arrears is reported to c'link/FAO from CSA

Child support only impacts your FTB in the year in which you receive it - so if he has a debt raised against him for previous years when he was shirking his responsibilities. the assessment changing now will potentially reduce your ftb til the end of the financial and if he hasn't pad the arrears amount, it will reconcile on what he actually has paid.

it's very difficult to say what the impact will be at reco though - it's really hard to guesstimate in advance