What Happens When Child Is 18?

Melsypop

Hello everyone!
I’ve been trying to find information online about this but it’s so confusing. 

My eldest daughter is going to be 18 years old in November. She’s currently studying A Levels at school and finishes next summer. When does her father stop paying child maintenance for her? Is it when she turns 18 or is it when she’s finished her A Levels and has left school? 

Many thanks 

justwhat

different rules in scotland to england. Also depends how much you want to milk the dad.

Eg in Scotland  you can say the child is applying for full time further education. Then maintenance more or less continues or until the start of college year and the child/young adult decided/mother decides college is not for them.

Rule of thumb if  Child benefit stops and child does NOT  go onto further education then  maintenance should stop.

(in your case child benefit will continue until at least  they leave school at end of summer term)

Spendless

Assuming it's England or Wales as you've mentioned A levels and I believe Scotland has a different qualification then it is the end of the academic year next year, end of August/beg of Sep.

If for whatever reason she decided to stay for a third year of sixth form say because she failed her exams and needed to re-sit maintainance continue until the end of that academic year.  

ZaSa1418

Melsypop said:

Hello everyone!
I’ve been trying to find information online about this but it’s so confusing. 

My eldest daughter is going to be 18 years old in November. She’s currently studying A Levels at school and finishes next summer. When does her father stop paying child maintenance for her? Is it when she turns 18 or is it when she’s finished her A Levels and has left school? 

Many thanks 

It will be when you no longer qualify for the child benefit for her. 

JJWSJS8700

He is the child maintenance payer and does not receive child benefit for his child.

Spendless

JJWSJS8700 said:

He is the child maintenance payer and does not receive child benefit for his child.

It is when the parent stops receiving child benefit for their child that maintenance stops being paid by the NRP also. That's what the answers are referencing. 

ZaSa1418

JJWSJS8700 said:

He is the child maintenance payer and does not receive child benefit for his child.

The OP asked when the father stops paying maintenance, she is the mother. 

JJWSJS8700

Sorry why did I think the poster was a father asking for advice. Lol

July 2023 when she finishes A levels unless you get 5 mth extension if registered with the careers service.

If she attends University it will stop.

She can attend full time non advanced education until her 20 birthday, then all child related benefits including child maintenance stops.

Spendless

JJWSJS8700 said:

Sorry why did I think the poster was a father asking for advice. Lol

July 2023 when she finishes A levels unless you get 5 mth extension if registered with the careers service.

If she attends University it will stop.

She can attend full time non advanced education until her 20 birthday, then all child related benefits including child maintenance stops.

When mine finished sixth form, one last year (2021) , the other 2018 it wasn't July when payments stopped. It was late August/early September. It might have been something like entitled till end of August, but paid the first Monday in September, but definitely not July and no run on as wasn't registered with career services either.  

mikejassss

I think when the child graduates, you can stop paying Child Maintenance.

sammyjammy

All of the answers above assume the maintenance isn't court ordered of course!