Maintenance - full time education

[gwynnie]

Hi Forum

I'd like to try to get some advice on a potential issue before it arises.

My son did A Levels (and didn't do that well with them..unfortunately). He then moved away from home to a college to do a sports diploma. This ends in June 2014. It's a stand alone course. He's now saying that when this comes to an end in June, he wants to continue at the same location and do a sports degree (3 years).

My question is, is his child maintenance at risk in any way because of him doing one course first (stand alone diploma), and then a separate second course (3 year degree)? The order says: up until he reaches 17 or ceases full time education, whichever is sooner.

If his dad says he wants to stop maintenance after the one year course, do I accept that or do I tell him that the order provides for 'full time education', therefore all of the time that he's studying full time, maintenance is paid. And if my son studied beyond the 3 year degree....say he then wanted to do post-grad (highly unlikely of course..), maintenance still continues (on the basis of the order saying 'full time education')?

Thanks in advance for any help/comments/anything...:santa2:

Gwynnie

[Inca]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

https://www.gov.uk/when-child-maintenance-payments-stop


Hiya,,,I thought it was 16 if not in furthur education
18 if child goes to college (as child should be able to get a part time job/and or student loans thereafter.)

I might be wrong tho,,so please check link above and Im sure others will pop by to help

[ostell]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

Or even ask him if he will help through a degree course. You said "whichever is sooner" so in theory, since your son has taken "A" levels, he is past 17 and he could have stopped already.

[leclerc]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

Inca, the link says this: "Child maintenance payments usually stop when the child reaches 16 (or 20 if they’re in full-time education not higher than A-level equivalent), but there are some exceptions."

Have copied and pasted it and the exceptions do not appear to apply. So after the one year diploma the ex can stop maintenance. Have highlighted the bit that is important

[Inca]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

Yeah....ignore me,,it was early,,,,,thought it might help/x

[gwynnie]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

Hi everyone, thanks ever so much for the help. So...have I got this right...my ex can stop payment after the one year diploma *despite* the fact that the order says 'full time education'?

If he writes to me and says that he's stopping maintenance after the one year diploma, do I accept that, or do I try to challenge it....or is it a definite cut and dried situation?

If my son had done the degree straight from A Levels, would the maintenance for him have been received for the 3 years? So has the one year diploma inbetween been the 'death knell' as it were, to him having financial support on a further degree...?

If the law is that post-A Level there's no support....howcome there are many exes paying maintenance as per the order throughout the degree period... I'm very confused around this area..

As things stand, relations are very good between all parties and everyone is amenable to doing the right thing, whatever that may be. However, I'd like to know what would happen if I said 'no' to the ceasing of maintenance after the diploma.

Thanks,

Gwynnie

[gwynnie]

Re: Maintenance - full time education

The latter, I meant... Not the sooner... Doh! :reindeer:

Gwynnie