Should NRP pay maintenance if their child goes to uni

[timelord92]

Just a general discussion about university and maintenance.

Is it fair that it stops when the child is 18 and goes to university? To a lot of people they are still children and still learning.

However, to the government they are adults now and therefore are old enough to support themselves, even tho how much loan they receive is determined by what the parents earn.

What are your thoughts?

My friends father still paid but paid it to her to pay her rent.

I was in no way independent of my parents when I was at uni despite having 3 jobs also. Realistically parents should still support but it may be that they give it to the child directly rather than the RP.. Though the RP is likely still maintaining a home, bedroom etc for the child.

No, imo, maintenance should stop. Instead a contribution should be made to the adult child to support them through their studies.

The loan amount they're eligible for is based on the RP's income alone.

No, I don't think it should be expected that a NRP pays for an adult child at university, but most parents do support their DC at university if they can afford it, usually by helping with rent or fees.

University is a choice and then what if they decide to do a masters, PHD..?

They are no longer children, despite what some people think.

The expectation now is very much that parents support their children through higher education, so no, maintenance shouldn't stop once DCs reach 18 if that's the path they're on.

XH paid DD1's hall fees (which were way more than the maintenance payments for two DCs!). I paid her "allowance" money as she was restricted in the kind of work she could do due to placements.

And no, the government doesn't really consider an 18 year old as capable of supporting themselves.

Their student finance is based on parents income, and housing benefit is very limited until age 25 iirc.

It should be paid whilst in education. In Scotland is it payable until the child is 20 if in full time education. I think it should be extended to 23. Possibly payable to the 'child' instead of resident parent though, unless still living at home.

Child support for DNeph stopped when he went to Uni, DSis and her exH both sent a set amount of money to DNeph per month to help him so he didn’t have to work ridiculous hours around studying.

Child is living independently yes, but why make their life harder by not financially supporting them whilst studying?

If you would have supported your adult child through uni as a married couple, then non resident should do that anyway. We will certainly continue the same payments if dsc decides to go to uni, but paying directly to them rather than resident parent.

My exh stopped paying the day after our eldest son turned 18 and stopped paying the £15 a month into his savings account.
Our son has just gone to uni and it cost me £100s to buy him all he needed to take with him. His gran on his dads side did give him a few bits.

DS is 13 so I haven't looked into this properly, but I was assuming as me and his Dad aren't together, the grant system only uses my income to determine his loan amount. If this is the case, I would say no, a NRP should not be expected to pay. If the NRP's income is taken into consideration too then yes. For DS, taking NRP income into account, he would not be able to live off the grant.

23 ? Fgs i was a fully qualified nurse at 23 we dont all live in a mumsnet middle class bubble many 23 year olds are earning their own money and parents themselves.

Agree with other posters. The NRP should ideally carry on supporting their DS/DD, but will probably want to give them the money directly rather than to the resident parent.

Courts now expect cm to be paid until child finishes full time education. Usual for 50% to be paid direct to child, 50% to resident parent for costs incurred during weekends/holidays and maintaining family home.

That’s interesting. Accommodation at uni is usually 12 months a year unless you have halls - I wonder what percentage don’t have anywhere to go during the holidays? I do see the point that the resident parent may need to keep a room for the young person during the holiday- perhaps that split should be discussed between them, rather than involve the non-resident parent who pays the adult child directly.

I think I'd expect it until the child/young person leaves full time education. If that's when they've finished Uni, then that's ok.

At 18 you’re more than capable of supporting yourself. Student loan is enough to live on and it’s beneficial to have a part time job. If the NRP chooses to pay anything it should be paid to the 18yo not the parent.

Anyway I’ve never understood why student loan is based on parental income when the student doesn’t live with the parent, get fed by the parent, and the parent doesn’t necessarily have to give them a penny?

Of course the NRP should support their children financially through uni if they are able. Why do people think and enable to the NRP to think that their moral obligations to their children end at 18.
They are still your children and why is it a big deal to help them through uni if you can surely its your moral duty.

I don't think anything should be paid for to the RP, I think if you can afford it, then sent the child directly some cash (like you would if you could afford it whether you lived with them or not!)

but realistically 18 is an adult, and I firmly believe uni us for learning to stand on your own two feet.

23 ? Fgs i was a fully qualified nurse at 23 we dont all live in a mumsnet middle class bubble many 23 year olds are earning their own money and parents themselves

im 23, ive got 1 child, one step child and im just buying my second house, I think my mum would laugh her arse off if I asked her for cash!

I don't think that CM as such should be paid, but I think a decent parent would contribute directly to their adult child at Uni if they are able to.

If we are talking about still paying CM to resident parent, then where does it stop?

My best friend's DP still gives maintenance to his twin 19 year olds who are at uni. Both work part time as well as study, and his view is if he was still with their mother he'd be helping them financially, so that doesn't change because he doesn't live in the family home, they are still his daughters regardless of legal obligations. Both have moved away to study so have considerable living costs.

Oh he gives the money directly to them. Their mother is happy with that as both are sensible girls who use it towards rent/bills etc

My children’s father died before they went to university. Although my widow’s pension stopped when I remarried I still received the pension for dc ‘as long as they were in full time education’ I transferred the money to their accounts so, in a way, it was like maintenance from their dad. I do think maintenance should continue until there is a break in education (end of degree etc).