Do we still need to pay maintenance

Bikerchicksrule

My partners daughter is 18 and she has just finished her A levels, she has accepted to go to university but has deferred it for a year...she was going to get a job but is going to college to do another A level...where do we stand with maintenance...I know if they are doing A levels you still have to pay but she has already done a levels and just doing an extra one for a gap filler. Thank you

poppy12345

Bikerchicksrule said:

My partners daughter is 18 and she has just finished her A levels, she has accepted to go to university but has deferred it for a year...she was going to get a job but is going to college to do another A level...where do we stand with maintenance...I know if they are doing A levels you still have to pay but she has already done a levels and just doing an extra one for a gap filler. Thank you

If child benefit is going to continue for her and it usually does at this age for A levels then yes child maintenance would also need to continue. Once she starts Uni or reaches her 20th birthday (which ever comes first) then the maintenance stops.

MalMonroe

Is the arrangement through CMS? If so maintenance payments should continue to age 20 if a child is studying A Levels, whether as a 'gap filler' or not. Maintenance isn't expected if a child goes to Uni. 

If it's a private arrangement then the two parents should come to some mutually satisfactory arrangement. 

Your partner could always contact CMS for advice - 

https://childmaintenanceservice.direct.gov.uk/onlinerevive/public/contact-us?branding=&lang=en

Having been in that position myself, my ex continued to contribute to our daughter's expenses (as did I) until she finished Uni, although he paid directly to her once she was 18.

Bikerchicksrule

Thanks...its a private arrangement...is this so even though she has already done A Levels? 

poppy12345

Bikerchicksrule said:

Thanks...its a private arrangement...is this so even though she has already done A Levels? 

All she's done is delay going to uni. She's going back to college to continue her education and continue doing A levels, this means you continue with maintenance.

paddyrush83

The only thing I would add to this is that she must still be in Full time education. I believe, but please check, that this is 12hrs a week. I would be surprised if 1 A Level would be classed as full time education.
I would check who often she will attend college and then discuss with CMS.
I don’t believe you would still need to pay maintenance for this period.

All the best