Mumsnet Talk

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows to what age a father would need to pay child maintenance in respect of a child with fairly severe autism?

My DSS is about 12.5 at the moment and attends a special school. My DH and I are considering whether to have another baby ourselves, and are looking at whether we can realistically afford it.

We currently pay £30 per week in child maintenance (not through the CSA, private agreement) and are trying to factor in what our expenses are likely to be over the next few years.

Does anyone know when the formal maintenance is likely to stop being payable? Thanks in advance to anyone who might have some information!

Well, maintainance is usually payable until 18 I think. I don't think the fact DSS has autism will change that.

I only wondered because it usually stops when they leave full-time education and "make their own way in the world" - so 16 if they leave school, 18 if they do A-Levels, or 19 (I think) if they go to university). Obviously DSS won't be doing A-Levels, but wasn't sure whether we needed to pay maintenance until he is 16 or 18 as he won't be working (probably) either.

As far as I'm aware with friends in that situation, the payments stop at 18 not 16.

Oh well, I guess we won't be having another baby then

It's another 5 1/2 years then.
If you really want another child, have a think about how you can manage it. I've got 2, one with AS. Each one has cost me considerably more than £120 a month to keep. I manage by penny-pinching and having another job as a sideline to teaching. Don't give up if your heart is set on adding to your family.

Obviously I don't know how badly affected your son is, but I thought that once he was 18 he would be entitled to benefits in his own name (as opposed to, say DLA, being paid into a parents account).
That could be seen as "making his own way", although to be honest I'd expect any parent with a child who has a disability to want to support them in whatever way possible for as long as it was needed, and if thats forever, then so be it.