Maintenance

[al48]

My son's father stopped maintenance to me when he left school and went to college. Should he still have a legal obgligation to contribute either to myself or to him until his further education has finished ?

[Ethel]

How old is your son?

Is the arrangement private, through the courts or through the CSA?

Is your ex-husband maintaining you?

[al48]

My son is 17, he's already done his first year at college and going into second year.

The arrangement was private, not through the CSA and he contributes nothing now.

[Ethel]

It seems to depend on what your son is studying - if it is A levels, then the father should be paying maintenance.

If it is any other sort of course, then no.

http://www.sfla.co.uk/endmaintenance.htm

[al48]

What does A level mean?

My son is studying for an HND

[Ethel]

Maintenance stops on the 19th birthday if the child stays on at school to do A levels. Or when he leaves school if sooner.

Child maintenance will never be awarded for an adult who chooses to go to university.

[Pippa68]

If your son is studying a full time course (12 hours per week or more) and is under 19 he is entitled to maintenance from his father.

Are you still receiving child benefit for your son? if so then he should be receiving maintenance.

As Ethel has correctly pointed out this is as long as it is further education and not advanced eg a degree.

[im going mad]

hi, i had this today with child benifit, my 17 year olds child benifit stops next week even though he is now doing an hnc, you only get help for A levels or highers, sorry.

[al48]

I must say i think it is very unfair that it seems to depend on what level of course your child is studying, and dont understand what relevance it makes.

Anway thanks for all your replies.

[shell605]

YES your son's father has to contribute until your son is 19 yrs old as long as he is in full time education.