Final Child Maintenance Payment

[HayleAimee]

Hi all.

My Child is 19 and will be finishing their approved further education course this year. Their course officially ends 06-June-2025.

The way I read the online guidance is that the parent that is paying Child Maintenance will continue to do so until (including) August this year. Is that correct?

They are not pleased about this but, I am only telling them what the government says (at least, my understanding of it).

Many thanks

Yes that's correct and they can be as displeased as they like it's their child too

Yes. It ends on the date that the new term at the school starts again in September.

FFS why are men so awful. I know my XH will be like this - won't give his son a penny the minute he doesn't legally have to 🤬

Does he think that from the day his college course ends, your DC ceases to need housing/feeding etc?

Yes you’re right, 31st August, same as the child benefit.

https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/when-child-maintenance-stops

Bit of a projection, for all you know, the father will be supporting his adult offspring directly either with the offer of housing or cash.

He's not under obligation to fund OP’s
household budget when his kid is an adult.

I'm expecting a massive fuck you/up yours text from my ex on 1st September.

He's only ever paid the CMS minimum - which I know some don't - but gives of best dad in the world vibes at every opportunity. Only sees the kids a couple of times a year.

I'm fortunate that my mortgage is almost at the end so the loss of CMS won't be too much of a financial challenge.

I'm glad I read this. I thought it continued until age 20 if they went to Uni. I didn't realise Uni didn't count as approved education 🤦‍♀️. I was going to give DC the CM to keep their head above water for a bit.

That's great. Thanks for confirming :)

@GabbyP thank you so much for posting this link. I think I'm about to have this argument with my ex, so it's good to be armed with the facts.