[Solved] When does Child Benefit stop

Hi I'm new to this forum, i have a question please. I have been paying child maintenance for two children and not missed a payment over 11 years now, my one daughter turned 20 last year and left to university and i notified CM and they never checked her status, a year went by and i contacted CM again and they admitted they never checked up on my daughters status and have now adjusted the monthly payments. my 2nd daughter is 18 and starts university in September and i have notified CM again (via website), but have received no response, should i keep making payments even when i know she has left for university?

Thanks Karl

Hi Karl and welcome to the forum...

I recently asked the CMS same question, below is what I've posted on other threads:

CMS is paid until child reaches 16 or until they reach 20 if they continue in full time education studying upto A Levels or equivalent.

Usually a child will do A Levels or equivalent from age 16 to 18 but they may have to retake GSCEs (or equivalent age 16 to 17) and then start A Levels at age 17 through to 19 and potentially retake another year of A Levels taking them through to age 20.

If they go on to study anything higher than A Level after age 16 then no CMS is to be paid.

The below article provides details of what HMRC class as acceptable courses to maintain Child Benefit which is generally paid for the same duration as Child Maintenance is due. Although I believe one difference is that Chid Maintenance is only paid if child is in full time education whereas Child Benefit can be paid if child is studying part time.

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1288491/child-benefit-approved-education-training

It's not easy to obtain proof of education if your ex is not willing to provide details. My suggestion would be to tell CMS that it is your understanding that child(ren) are not in education and that you intend to stop payments unless CMS obtain proof. I don't believe they have to provide copy to you but you can them if they hold it on file and the finer details of course/school/college etc.

I'm not an expert but hope this helps.

Hello, I stay in Glasgow and have been paying maintenance for my child,he is 20 in a month and he works for me making £220:00 a week since March this year, my ex said I still have to pay the maintenance after his birthday as he is going to college, this will be his second time, 1st time it was music, and now it’s a barber ! Can some one please advise me ? Do I still have pay this money ?

Unless you have a court order to say you have to pay beyond 20, could maintenance stops at age 20. If you aren't paying through cms, then you can stop now, all your account
Ex can do is open a case with CMS, by which time [censored] be 20 anyway so they won't touch it.

Hi

I'm after some advice. I have been paying CSA with no questions ask but I was always advised by the CSA that I still have to pay maintenance as long as my son is in full time education and is in receipt of child benefit.

Today as of the 7th of September the CSA advised he is not in receipt of Child Benefit. My CSA case worker has advised that my ex has told them he is still in full time education and therefore should still receive full maintenance.

But from what he said she has just said this. He then advised I should contact child benefit and open a case with them. Im totally confused about this as the CSA always said that as long as my son is in receipt of child benefit I should pay maintenance.

I believe my son is not in college anymore and is working but this is only hearsay and I have no solid proof.

Should I contact child benefit or complain to the CSA to investigate?.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Sorry I forgot to add my son is 17

you could contact child benefit dept and make enquiry about sons child benefit with them, why has it ended. this is the problem if you don't have any contact with kids. ex can lie and be dumb.

Hi,

Like others, I have read the countless messages but need clarification on what I hope is an easy ask. My Son will be 16 in July 2021. He hasn't attended school since he was 13 and has had only sporadic home tuition. It looks like he will not be attending school again for 2020/21 which in effect means he will leave school at 16. I am looking at the 'process'. I assume I contact the CSA in say June and inform them that he hasn't been attending school and that my payments should stop after his 16th Birthday in July. From what I have read, it looks like I will make both an August/september payment as well for some sort of transition but as he hasn't attended school would the payments stop in July, August or September?

Many thanks.

The last payment is usually August as that's when he's deemd to have left (ie hasn't started again in September) - what is he doing now - I thought legally children now had to remain in education or approved apprenticeship or traineeship?

Thanks for the reply.....now here's an interesting twist. It seems that in England that is true indeed....compulsory until 18 but according to the .gov website it states...where I live across the border in Monmouth that " You can leave school on the last Friday in June, as long as you’ll be 16 by the end of that school year’s summer holidays.It seems the law is different in Wales v England!

Might be worth raising that with CMS

Hi, apologies, you asked what he is doing now...well nothing. He sits at home with a local Ed authority supplying some work to be getting on with but try as the school might, the mother refuses and switches to a home tuition application every time which as they explain has kids far worse off than him on a waiting list for 12 months so hence the fact that he will not be in school again this year. Year 10...GCSE time but on his computer all day every day. I told the CMS that I am paying all this money for him to sit at home and they just suggested a court order which as a local solicitor says could take until summer next year to get through the backlog and then the CMS payements as you kindly said will finish in August. What a strange org the CMS is.! I will ring next year and see where I stand. Thanks for the gret advice.

I'm glad I found this page I was going to ask the same question.

My daughter has turned 19 and finished her A levels in August. She is starting Uni next year to train as a midwife.

I have no contact with her and noticed on her Facebook page that she put she has finished her A levels and starts Uni next year.

I've read that child benefit stops when they stop education and CMS are supposed to check. However I've had a review done in September and they have calculated payments for the next 12 months.

I've sent a message to CMS but unsure what my next steps should be?