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Original poster

Don't really know where to put this but CMS issues!

31 replies

FedUp120028 · 04/09/2025 23:36

This place gets a lot of traffic so thought I'd start here...

Maintenance payments were due to cease in February for one child and August 31st the other child. One is working full time and not in education, other is off to uni. RP is maintaining that the children are in education and maintenance is still payable in full. CMS have sided with the RP as child benefit is still in payment.

Waiting for tribunal but NRP cannot afford to keep paying the several hundred they do while waiting for this, so lowered the payment this month and has now been threatened with collect and pay.

Any advice please?

OP posts:
ThePure · 05/09/2025 04:15

Sorry yes meant RP should have reported that the children had finished school so might be committing fraud unless there is some loophole that is not being disclosed.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 05/09/2025 04:11

ThePure · 05/09/2025 04:06

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

Seems as though NRP might be committing benefit fraud as they need to inform the authorities if the child is no longer in education or training.

I think you mean the RP may be committing benefit fraud, not NRP; it’s the NRP who disagrees with continuing payments at this point; but RP who insists both children are still in education, is receiving CB according to OP and with whom CMS have agreed!

ThePure · 05/09/2025 04:06

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

Seems as though NRP might be committing benefit fraud as they need to inform the authorities if the child is no longer in education or training.

Child Benefit when your child turns 16

Child Benefit for 16 to 19 year olds - when payments stop or continue, approved education or training, extensions.

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

TheGreatWesternShrew · 05/09/2025 04:03

What advice do you want? The legal route says to keep paying until the tribunal rules either way.

Although it’s weird to pay for a child at uni. Legally the payments until 20 are usually only if they’re A level or below.

ThePure · 05/09/2025 04:02

The right thing to do would be to at least give some money direct to the child at Uni as parental contributions are expected if they don’t get a full maintenance grant. Surely there is no obligation to pay NRP still for adult kids.

ThePure · 05/09/2025 04:00

This seems odd from CMS. I thought it was clear that maintenance is not payable after 16th birthday or after they complete their A levels ie August 31st

The one in work clearly you should not have to pay
The one at Uni doesn’t count for CB or maintenance either

Gov website:

You cannot get Child Benefit if your child is:

  • studying for a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate (an ‘advanced course’)
  • studying for a pre-degree course - for example a foundation diploma or access to higher education course
  • on an apprenticeship (unless it’s a Foundation Apprenticeship in Wales)
  • doing a course with an employer’s agreement - for example in order to get a job with that employer, or to get skills for a job they’re already in
  • doing a training course that is part of a job contract