CS1979 — Request to Change Payment Collection Method (Child Support)

What is Change child support collection method (CS1979)?

Child support can be collected two ways. With Private Collect, Services Australia keeps calculating the assessment but the parents manage the payments themselves. With Child Support Collect, Services Australia collects the payments from the paying parent and passes them on.

Form CS1979 is how a receiving parent with a registered child support case (or spousal maintenance) asks to change from one to the other. Moving to Child Support Collect, you can also ask for up to 3 months of unpaid child support to be collected, or up to 9 months if exceptional circumstances stopped you applying earlier, and give details that help locate the paying parent.

FileIt fills in the Services Australia PDF, follows the form's 'go to' steps so you only see the questions that apply, and wraps long answers onto the printed lines. You can also make the change through your Child Support online account.

Who needs to fill out Change child support collection method (CS1979)?

• A receiving parent who wants Services Australia to start collecting child support because private payments aren't being made.
• A receiving parent who wants to move to Private Collect and manage the payments directly with the other parent.
• A person receiving spousal maintenance through Services Australia who wants to change the collection method.

When to use Change child support collection method (CS1979)

• When you already have a registered child support case or spousal maintenance with Services Australia.
• As soon as payments stop under Private Collect, since only the last 3 months of arrears (9 in exceptional circumstances) can be collected.
• Before choosing Private Collect, check how it affects your Family Tax Benefit: the form explains that if you receive more than the base rate, you must take reasonable action to collect the full assessed rate.

What you need before you start

• Your Customer Reference Number, if you know it, your contact details and addresses.
• The other party's name, date of birth and address.
• The account you want payments made into: bank, BSB, account number and account name.
• For arrears: each amount due and paid, the date paid and the period it covers.
• Anything that may help locate the paying parent, such as their employer's name, address and phone number, or their bank.

What’s on Change child support collection method (CS1979)

The 2023 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 6 parts, and it is signed by Receiving parent:

1. Your details (questions 1-6)Receiving parent
2. Other party's details (questions 7-9)Receiving parent
3. Collection method (question 10)Receiving parent
4. Changing to Private Collect (questions 11-14)Receiving parent
5. Changing to Child Support Collect (questions 15-23)Receiving parent
6. Declaration (question 25)Receiving parent

How to fill out Change child support collection method (CS1979), step by step

1 Questions 1 to 9: you and the other party

Give your CRN if you know it, name, date of birth, addresses and phone, then the other party's name, date of birth and address.

2 Question 10: the collection method

Choose Private Collect or Child Support Collect. FileIt shows the next questions for that choice.

3 Questions 11 to 14: Private Collect

Say whether you want Child Support to collect any outstanding child support. If so, give the account for payment and whether to collect the full amount or only part of it.

4 Questions 15 to 17: unpaid amounts

For Child Support Collect, list up to three amounts owing for the last 3 months. Where exceptional circumstances stopped you applying earlier, you can ask for up to 9 months and explain the circumstances.

5 Questions 18 to 23: locating the paying parent and your account

Give the paying parent's employer details if they are employed, anything else that may help locate them, and the account you want payments made into.

6 Declaration

Sign and date the declaration that the information is complete and correct.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Giving an account that isn't in your name. A joint account is acceptable, but not one used only for NDIS funding.
• Repeating question 15's amounts at question 16.
• Entering an amount paid larger than the amount due.
• Choosing Private Collect without checking the effect on Family Tax Benefit.

After you fill it out

Return the signed form and copies of any supporting documents online (Child Support online account or the Express Plus Child Support app, Upload documents), by post to Services Australia, Child Support, GPO Box 9815, Melbourne VIC 3001, or by fax to 1300 309 949.

Keep a copy, and records of every payment if you collect privately.

Change child support collection method (CS1979): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Services Australia (Child Support): https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/cs1979-2310en-f.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/cs1979
• Edition shown on this page: CS1979.2310 (checked 2026-10-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Services Australia (Child Support) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.

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