One daughter looking to start apprenticeship

Hello fairtradebananas

Under statutory rules maintenance payments should continue until a child is 20 if they are in full-time, non-advanced education. Full-time education is classed as a minimum of 12 hours per week and non-advanced is any standard up to and including A-level standard or the equivalent.

Therefore, both statements are correct. If the education part of the apprenticeship is less than 12 hours per week, maintenance requirements may come to an end. However, payments do run in line with Child Benefit payments and certain apprenticeships can be classed as approved training. It depends on the type of apprenticeship and what qualification is being studied for. Here is a list of qualifications which would be classed as non-advanced education:

- GCE, GCSE, A level, AS level
- SCE Higher Grade or equivalent
- GNVQ, NVQ levels 1 2 and 3
- BTEC certificates and diplomas
- SCOTVEC National Certificate
- Scottish Certificate of 6th Year Studies
- Foundation Arts Course
- Secretarial Course with GCSE entry
- NNEB
- Hairdressing Courses

Of course, having said all that, as you have a family-based arrangement in place, there are no set rules which you have to follow. Your arrangement can come to an end at whatever time you both agree to.

If you would like any further information and to receive a more personalised service, you can contact child maintenance Options directly, www.cmoptions.org.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have a website, ‘Sorting out separation’. It aims to make it much easier for separating and separated parents (and childless couples) to find the support they need, when and where they need it, and encourages them to collaborate on a range of issues. The link is https: www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Sorting-Out-Separation.html

Regards

William

Hello fairtradebananas

An A level qualification would be classed as non-advanced education. However, for child maintenance and Child Benefit to continue, your daughter would still need to be classed as being in full-time education (more than an average of 12 hours a week supervised study or course-related work experience).

You can find information around what is classed as approved training on the Government website at www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19.

For more information on the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website at www.cmoptions.org

The DWP have a sorting out separation website that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk/

Regards

William