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Hello, my son was kicked out of sixth form at Easter. He’s since got himself an apprenticeship and works part time in another shop too. My question is… what would you do about child maintenance payments to his mother?she currently gets a fair amount of me for him but he now earns over £1,000 a month himself with his two jobs. He is 17, 18 in December. What do you think I should do? Legally, I know payments should have stopped on May 1st as child benefit stopped then too. Mum apparently has said she won’t take any money for rent off him until he turns 18, so now feeling as though I should still pay her? Even though she doesn’t need the money and legally she isn’t entitled to it plus he earns over £1,000 a month ! ?
any advice would be welcome . Thank you
Hi,
If your paying maintenance via child maintenance service then payments would stop when child benefit ends. If you would like to continue paying voluntarily that is up to you.
Personally, I think your ex is setting herself up for trouble - your son is getting used to earning (and spending) all of his earnings, so when he turns 18 and your ex suddenly demands a portion of his pay, he's not going to be happy.
I would stop paying maintenance as you aren't required to, and instead put that money into a savings account for him later on.
Please can you help me … really appreciate your replies so far. An update. I’ve told her no more payments and she’s threatened me with csa… currently our consent order means I pay slightly less then if I went though csa, however I’m always available to help when needed financially if my child needs it. She’s told me I have until tomorrow to put the agreed amount in her bank otherwise she’s taking me to csa and will get me for every last penny. She claims our son is going back to college in September so I’m legally going to have to continue paying until he is 20 another two years! I’ve said if he decides to, then I’ll support him obviously but she’s saying unless I continue to pay now she’ll basically take me to csa and make me pay much more than we’ve agreed so she has me over a barrel. What should I do?
@stepdadme hi. sorry to hear this. if there's a possibility that she could be lying and child does not return to full-time education, then I think it's better that you wait and see if she opens CMS case. you can check CMS calculator to get good idea of what you would be paying through CMS:
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
I suggest you don't be intimidated and give in to such threats. this may possibly be classed as economic abuse/coercive control. you could contact police on the non-emergency phone line and report it.
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