Child maintance.

[ilovepixie]

My step daughter turned 18 in January. She is not in full time education. She doesn't work either. She claims benefits. She moved out of her mothers home last June when she was 17 to live with her boyfriend. However the CMS is saying my partner has to pay maintance from last June and to keep on paying it. Can anyone tell me if this is right? You still have to pay for a child over 18 and not living with either parent.

Child maintenance ends at 16 unless the child is in approved education or training - see www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19 for what classes as approved.

The CMS has jurisdiction in relation to a child who is aged under 16, or is aged between 16 and 20 and is a 'qualifying young person', ie a young person who by virtue of their education/training status still qualifies for child benefit. Those who have been through a ceremony of marriage or civil partnership (even if void) are excluded.