Self-support amount
The self-support amount is the portion of income set aside for a parent to live on before child support is worked out. For 2026, it is $31,046 per year.
The self-support amount reduces the income used in the formula so only the remaining amount is considered available for children. If income is low, the deduction can reduce child support income to zero, although minimum payment rules still apply.
Key takeaways for parents
The self-support amount in child support acts similarly to the low-income threshold in tax calculations. Any income below the threshold has no impact on the assessment. Consequently:
- you can earn income from part-time or limited work without affecting the assessment, provided your total income remains below the self-support amount; and
- you do not need to be concerned about the exact income reported by the other parent while their income also remains below the threshold.
For child support purposes, an income of zero and any higher amount below the self-support threshold produce the same result.
Self-support amount definition
The self-support amount is a component of child support income and is the amount that is deducted from the parent’s ATI for their own support. The self-support amount is the same for both parents in an assessment.
The self-support amount is worked out as follows:
⅓ × Annualised MTAWE figure for the relevant June quarter
The annual value of the self-support amount is included in the table of basic values. The self-support amount is updated each year on 1 January.
Definition source: Guides to Social Policy Law, Child Support Guide, Self-support amount.
Effect on child support income
The self-support amount is one of the first deductions applied when calculating child support income. The deduction is taken from each parent’s adjusted taxable income (ATI), leaving the portion of income considered available to support children.
The deduction makes the formula more progressive. It shifts the weight of financial responsibility towards higher-income earners who earn well above the threshold.
Minimum rates after the deduction
If a parent’s income is below the self-support amount, their child support income will be zero. The formula treats them as having no financial capacity to support the children and themselves at the same time.
A zero child support income does not always result in a zero payment. If the parent has below shared care and does not receive income support, the fixed annual rate applies. If the parent has below regular care and receives income support, the minimum annual rate applies.
Self-support amount examples
A parent earns $40,000 per year. The self-support amount is $31,046 in 2026. After the deduction, their child support income is $8,954 before any other adjustments. The $8,954 figure flows through the rest of the formula.
If the same parent earned $30,000, the deduction would reduce their child support income to zero. The formula would treat them as having no financial capacity, but minimum payment rules may still require a contribution.