Child support early intervention means test

The child support early intervention means test is applied to both parents receiving and paying child support (herein referred to as “separated parents”) as follows:

1. That separated parents who are:
   1. in receipt of Centrelink Benefits, and/or
   2. in receipt of or entitled to Family Tax Benefit of more than the minimum rate

be entitled to legal representation free of charge in the Magistrates’ Court and for Services Australia internal administrative reviews, for matters under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989, if the application meets the Commonwealth Merits Test.

2. That separated parents who do not meet the requirement in paragraph 1 for matters under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 be required to apply for a grant of legal assistance applying the standard VLA Means Test.