Child Maintenance during Lockdown

angelinamay

Hello
I pay child maintenance to my 18 year old daughter via a family agreement rather than through the CSA.  She hasn't been to school since well before Christmas.  I'm currently furloughed.  Question is, should I be paying her anything at the moment, as she isn't going out at all and is in lockdown with her boyfriend and his family. 
Thanks

angelinamay

angelinamay said:

Hello
I pay child maintenance to my 18 year old daughter via a family agreement rather than through the CSA.  She hasn't been to school since well before Christmas.  I'm currently furloughed.  Question is, should I be paying her anything at the moment, as she isn't going out at all and is in lockdown with her boyfriend and his family. 
Thanks

This is of course, being posted on behalf of my partner. 

tacpot12

Child maintenance is paid to cover the cost of the child. Costs come in many forms, and include some annual costs. You might discuss with the other parent whether it might be fair to make a few payments to the family that the she is staying with as she is undoubtedly costing them money and the other parent will be saving on food (especially where an 18 yo is living). So the basic answer to your questions is "Yes, you should be paying someone." If you income has been hit during lockdown, it would be reasonable to negotiate to pay a bit less.  

elsien

She still has to eat, doesn’t she? 

Is she still in education and working towards A levels even though she is not physically attending? 

angelinamay

elsien said:

She still has to eat, doesn’t she? 

Of course, yes she does, but she lives with boyfriends parents rent free - they feed and house her for nought. 

angelinamay

tacpot12 said:

Child maintenance is paid to cover the cost of the child. Costs come in many forms, and include some annual costs. You might discuss with the other parent whether it might be fair to make a few payments to the family that the she is staying with as she is undoubtedly costing them money and the other parent will be saving on food (especially where an 18 yo is living). So the basic answer to your questions is "Yes, you should be paying someone." If you income has been hit during lockdown, it would be reasonable to negotiate to pay a bit less.  

The daughter was living with her mother until early last year, when she decided to leave.  Her mother speaks with her but has washed her hands of her everyday needs, she does I believe, pay her a small amount of money.  

angelinamay

elsien said:

She still has to eat, doesn’t she? 

Is she still in education and working towards A levels even though she is not physically attending? 

Sorry missed that bit - yes she is working towards A levels, but she doesn't really speak with her father very much (far too grown up) but from what he can make out, her work has been slipping lately.  Probably the act of not being in a formal class  surrounding that's to blame, 

theoretica

She is still in A level education so child maintenance is due (and does not depend on how well she is doing) - arguably it should be offered to the boyfriend's parents for her food first, but she will need clothing etc too.

angelinamay

theoretica said:

She is still in A level education so child maintenance is due (and does not depend on how well she is doing) - arguably it should be offered to the boyfriend's parents for her food first, but she will need clothing etc too.

What slightly concerns me theoretica, is that the boyfriend has no sisters and his mother appears to be treating the daughter a little like her OWN daughter - before this latest lockdown, she took her out to buy clothes.  They WAS offered money but rejected the idea. 

angelinamay

I'll take it this conversation is finished then.  Thanks all for replying,