Uni payments

[Mulcahy75]

Hi my hb stopped paying for his daughter at 18 after she completed a levels at college, now he's been told she's doing more a levels at uni does he have to start up payments again?

I've never heard of anyone doing A levels at University. What course is she doing?

Is he contributing to the parental contribution part of her student finance?

I didn’t know you could do A levels at university!

Regardless of that, my children are at university and they certainly don’t get any cheaper so I would think him continuing to support her would be a good thing.

Why isn't he supporting her financially if she's still in education?

Hi we're not sure what courses she's taking as he no longer sees her this is just what his ex said. She says they can take him to court. No he no longer contributes since she finished college.

He was she finished a levels and became an adult at 18

I doubt she is doing additional A levels at uni. Possibly a Foundation year? Why is your dh not supporting her voluntarily?

We can not afford it

But you could until last summer?

It's usual for parents to continue to support their children through university, and if he was managing to make maintenance payments before she turned 18, then he can afford it. I wouldn't have much respect for a father who had this sort of "bare minimum" attitude to his child tbh.

Yes and we thought it was finished cost of living going up

If she’s in full-time education doing a level 3 course (ie A levels or equivalent) payments continue until they turn 20. However, any decent parent would continue to offer support throughout the uni years.

It’s also gone up when it comes to his daughter’s living costs! I think it’s crappy for him to stop paying. Students have next to nothing.

It isn't "finished" though, is it, she's still his daughter and she's still in education. Who is picking up the slack now that he's decided to abandon his responsibilities?

I wouldn't want to see him either if I were her.

This.

Parents income is assessed as part of the student loans / grants scheme and parents are expected to top up any gaps.

My ex suddenly decided he didn’t fancy making maintenance payments anymore when dd started university (despite being a millionaire but that’s a different story) and I argued with him that I was still having to support her and top up her income so I expected him to continue to do the same.

I understand it is 'usual' for parents to support their children through uni HOWEVER if you can't afford to go to uni then you can't afford to go to uni 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've never heard of anyone doing a levels at university. She might be doing an access course?

If maintenance is payable, court won't get involved. They'd just say to go via CMS. I'd tell her to go via CMS as they'll ask for proof of the course and saved getting involved in any back and forth.

If she was going to uni then she is considered dependent on her parents to support her financially, Ds is costing us £5k per year because his maintenance loan doesn't even cover his accommodation costs. His loan is so low because it is based on the household income so measured off what a parent/step parent earn in the house where they reside.

Ds is also home for around 23 weeks of the year when he is not at uni, you think he doesn't cost anything? Your husband should be paying to support his child.

You have no idea of the situation so your comments aren't helping - thanks

Nah she's an adult. He should give the money to her now

My Mum is and always has been a great parent. She didn't pay towards my uni costs because she couldn't afford to. It didn't make her any less of a mum!

https://www.harbourfamilylaw.co.uk/a-guide-to-child-maintenance-in-2023/#:~:text=Child%20maintenance%20payments%20should%20be,child%20maintenance%20payment%20will%20stop.

some interesting information here. If you stop paying when a child continues to be eligible, they can take the money straight from the non-paying parent’s salary and they can also be responsible for substantial court costs.

Parenting doesn't end at 18 but he should be giving maintenance directly to his daughter and encouraging her to spend time with you

A lot depends on the financial order made when they divorced.

Sometimes it covers uni costs and states who should pay.

If so then your partner needs to pay whatever he agreed.

However, it seems to be the case that while he does not need to pay his ex-partner his child may be able to take court action to get him to pay them.

www.russell-cooke.co.uk/news-and-insights/news/children-in-university-how-it-affects-child-maintenance

You asked 🤷🏻‍♀️ and we've got the information you gave us, which is enough to deduce that your DH is a deadbeat dad who thinks parenting stops at 18.

Yes, any monies now should be paid directly to his DD, even a teeny amount helps pay for food.