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Hi, so my 16y/o daughter is pregnant and is due in June 23.
Currently I pay through a CMS plan to my ex wife.
My question is, at what point would the CMS agree that I stop paying child maintenance for my daughter? Would it be when my daughter claims for income support/child benefit herself? I’ve heard of situations whereby my ex wife could apply for the child benefit rather than my daughter meaning that I would still need to pay! In effect receiving a double payment classed as a “loophole” in the system.
To add, since announcing the pregnancy my daughter has not once stepped foot inside a school nor attended remote lessons so from my perspective is not in any full time education now nor has been for a few months.
Lastly, even with a new born baby it’s likely that my daughter will register in full-time education although not attend at all, how often can a child be registered “in education” before the CMS would acknowledge the only reason is for Child Maintenance benefits from me?
thanks in advance
hi,
there are so many rules. CMS are very systematic. as long as your ex is receiving child benefit, then they expect you to carry on paying child maintenance. if child stays in approved full-time education, then its possible that you pay maintenance until she turns 20.
if your child starts claiming benefits, then the child benefit stops, and thus child maintenance stops.
some info here: https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19#:~:text=Your%20Child%20Benefit%20stops%20on,you%20to%20confirm%20their%20plans.
@bill337 thank you for providing a response. The videos are helpful too.
Basically, it’s a waiting game now then. Do you know how I would find out when Child Benefit payments stop to the ex and therefore know when to stop my maintenance payments?
@justmeandthe you would have to contact CMS and ask them to check status of child benefit.
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