CSA question

[CountryGal13]

Hi all. I'm just wondering what happens with regards to CSA when a non residential teen goes away to university or just prefers to spend time with friends/boyfriend ect rather than visiting the NR parent? Will the payments increase because they're staying less often?

Thanks x

Usually stops when the child reaches 18, or leaves education if that is later. University doesn't count.

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Sorry, my phones gone crazy!

Is it not 19 when the payments stop if they're in full time education? I may have this wrong as I don't know too much about it...

19 is possible if it is further education (college) but I don't think it is if they are at university - advanced education?

I would check the CSA website.

Ok, it is for when they are eligible for child benefit up to the age of 20 provided they are in approved education:

Approved education

Education must be full-time (at least an average of 12 hours a week supervised study and or course-related work experience) and can include:

A levels or similar - eg Pre-U, International Baccalaureate
Scottish Highers
NVQ up to level 3
home education - if started before your child turned 16

Courses are not approved if paid for by an employer or ‘advanced’, eg a university degree, BTEC Higher National Certificate.

Ahhh, that's interesting. Thanks Random, I'll check it out... x

That's great. Thanks for that! I'd just presumed that University would be included x

Ahhh, that's interesting. Thanks Random, I'll check it out... x

Damn phone!! haha

Random is correct. Thankfully. Otherwise you could, in theory, be paying maintenance for years and years if the young person chose to do a 4 year course followed by a post graduate degree!

How about when teens decide not to visit as often to spend more time with friends ect? Will payments increase then?

In theory I suppose it should but I would leave it to the other parent to bring it up. It's a tough one really as you are making your home available and they are not staying at the resident parents either.

Yeh, she's said she plans to tell the CSA as she needs the money. DSD is 18 in Dec so suppose we'll just have to grin and bare it until then. Hopefully it won't make a huge difference...x

Yeh, she's said she plans to tell the CSA as she needs the money. DSD is 18 in Dec so suppose we'll just have to grin and bare it until then. Hopefully it won't make a huge difference...x

I think you'd be unlucky if the CSA increased your payments due to the more ad hoc lifestyle of an older teen. Also, I thought the calculation was based on the over-nights on an "average" week, and can hardly recalculate everytime a teenager decides to go to party instead of seeing Dad.

But have a look a the maintenance calculator on the CSA website; even if the ex were successful in getting the repayments reassessed, I doubt that claiming the odd night here and there would make much difference to the amount paid.