Child Maintenance Service frustrations

inspectionbend

I have been paying Maintenance for my child since September 2014 and never missed a payment. I have always abided by the rules governed by the system, yet by the same token i believe the same rules now do not apply. My child, who has just turned 18, left full-time education in October 2025. CMS have informed me that payments are still due as Child Benefit is still active. I have had many discussions with the CMS and sent in information via their online portal, and they will not shift on their stance regards Child Benefit. It really does appear the system is weighted towards the receiving parent and does not consider the impacts on the paying parent. It is extremely frustrating!!! I'm i being impatient and should let the system catch-up? or do i try and force the issue? Thoughts on this would be appreciated

tacpot12

I understand your frustration. I suspect the CMS are stuck with the rule and the legal advice they have received about the rules such that they have to contonue to enorce maintenance arrangements until Child Benefits stops. So the question is why Child Benefit hasn't stopped.

It should stop immediately if the child starts working more than 24 hours a week, or if they claim Universal Credit (UC). You could encourage and even help your child to claim UC if they haven't found a job yet. Helping them find and move into regular work is another option.

Child Benefit payment shold stop automatically because the have left full-time education, and although they did so in October 2025, the may have just missed the cut-off such that it will not end until 28 Feb (4 days time). If the receiving parent hasn't told the Child Benefit team at HMRC that the child has left full-time education, this is benefit fraud, and you can report them anonymously for this. It still may take some time for the Child Benefit payments to stop, and until they do, expecting the CMS to interceed on your behalf isn't going to work.

I don't think you are right that the system is weighted towards the receiving parent and does not consider the impacts on the paying parent. The level of payments required from the paying parent does consider the impact on them and their family, but it has to ensure that the child is provided for adequately.

sheramber

What is your child doing since ceasing full time education?

inspectionbend

My child hasn't been doing anything im afraid. She has told me she has applied for a few jobs but nothing has materialised.

Appreciate you commenting on my post - thanks

inspectionbend

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897704#Comment_81897704

My child hasn't been doing anything im afraid. She has told me she has applied for a few jobs but nothing has materialised. M


sheramber

When your child leaves education or training

If your child completes their course, payments will stop at whichever of these dates comes first:

• the end of February
• 31 May
• 31 August
• 30 November

If they leave the course before it’s complete, you must tell HMRC that your child is leaving education or training to avoid overpayments. If you get payments that you should not have, you might need to pay them back.

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud