Child benefit and maintenance

[BeccaPB]

My 17 year old left school last July. He started college in September and left college for a week long apprenticeship training program with a Training Probider called Greenlight last October. The promise was that after the week he would be signed up with an employer. Ever since he has been going to interviews and has not got a placement. His Dad has refused to pay maintenance the whole time because he wasn’t in full time education. Today a friend mentioned that she thinks I will have to pay back my child benefit and Universal credit. I haven’t even considered that! I thought that because he was signed with Greenlight Training waiting for a placement he was officially on someone’s books and therefore entitled to benefits.
Is my ex right- no maintenance even though my son hasn’t been working?
How do I find out if I will have to pay the child benefit and universal credit back and how much it will be? I work full time so don’t get much Universal Credit so I’m not that worried about that part.
Thanks for any help you can give. Becca

Your ex should be paying maintenance until your son is 18, minimum. He owes you the back payment.

I'm not certain about benefits but pretty sure you're ok on that front too.

No it’s not. It’s 16.

You must have a child maintenance arrangement if your child is under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education).

He doesn’t have to pay. The child is not in education.

Also an apprentership is not counted as full time education and you won’t get benefits either anymore.

A young person still counts as being in full time education in any week where;
• as a part of the curriculum they are on holiday or preparing for exams
• they are away from school or college due to sickness or ill-health but are intending to return to that course of education.
• they have ended one course of education but have registered for another one starting in the following term, and the only reason for not currently studying is that they are waiting for that course to start.

Approved training courses
Young people aged 16 to 19 (or those who are under age 20 and started their current course before they turned 19) are regarded as being in approved training, if the course is one of the following and is not provided through a contract of employment:
• England – Entry to Employment or Programme Led Pathways, Apprenticeships
• Scotland – Get Ready for Work, Skillseekers or Modern Apprenticeships
• Wales – Foundation Modern Apprenticeships, Skillbuild or Skillbuild+
• Northern Ireland – Access or Jobskills Traineeships.

He doesn't have to pay maintenance but morally he should as still his child. No sure how UC works but he might be able to claim it himself. Child benefits I believe should of stopped but if you call them they can give you 3 months grace. One of my daughters was at college and due to something horrific quit and I didn't tell them for months as just didn't register and when I spoke to them they let me off 3 months and only had to pay minimal back, and they offered for me to do in installments, which luckily I didn't need to.

The issue is greenlight training are trying to sign him up with a contract of employment. Greenlight should be able to advise you as to exactly when he classes as no longer in full time education. Its either going to be the end of their one week course or when he signs an employment contract but if it was the end of the week course then yes uc and cb will need repaying.