Does Child maintenance stop if daughter does apprenticeship?

[Dnonomore]

My 18 year old daughter is thinking of leaving college and doing an apprenticeship. I’m pretty sure I will lose the tax credit and child benefit for her but will her dad stop paying the maintenance? This is a big part of my income and although she said she will contribute to the household, her salary does not come close to what I will lose with maintenance, tax credit and benefit. Even if she gave me every penny, it is less than I get now. At £3.90 an hour, surely he must realise that she couldn’t contribute anywhere near what he has to send me. (Our arrangement is set by CMS and went through tribunal and his payment was determined by his earnings

If you're losing cb and she's 18, then by law then no he probably doesn't have to pay, but he absolutely should from a moral point of view. V

This is up to the court. He needs to continue paying until the court tells him he it is okay for him to stop.

But according to this page the apprenticeship doesn't disqualify you from collecting child suupport:

www.separateddads.co.uk/what-age-do-child-maintenance-payments-stop.html

"In 2013 the law changed, making it compulsory for all UK children to continue in some kind of further education until the age of 18 (that is the end of the school year in which they turn 18). This is not necessarily a full time college course - it can be an apprenticeship or full time employment (over 20 hours a week) that includes some education or training."

But whatever the case you can only rely on this income for another two years, maximum.

Ugh, sorry I misread that "20 weeks" somehow as 20 years. No, according to that page it ends at 18 years, unless maybe, the child is in university. Of course he still has to keep paying until the court tells him to stop, but it looks like the CS is going to end very soon.

But I know you'll support her in this apprenticeship. College isn't for everyone, and I'm sure she hasn't made this decision lightly.

Do you work? You will need to go to work, or do more hours if you are part time. Yes I think legally he is allowed to stop maintenance when she is 18. Morally he shouldn’t because obviously on an apprenticeship she won’t be earning much.

But the main issue is that despite being a full time apprentice she'll get less than a living wage? That's bad. Perhaps there's some kind of supplementary benefit she can apply for? Although with current circumstances it may take a couple months or more before things return to normal.

Thanks for the advice. Yes I work full time and have 2 other younger children so couldn’t feasibly take on any more work. She would be earning far below the minimum wage but because she lives at home with me, she wouldn’t be entitled to any supplementary benefits if her own. [hmm

He might continue to support her directly if she asks him. It sounds worrying that it’s such a big part of your income and going to end soon.