Do I Have to Pay Child Support After Age 18 in UK? Rules, Exceptions, and When It Stops
If you’re searching Do I have to pay child support after age 18 UK, you’re usually really asking one thing: does Child Maintenance Service (CMS) child maintenance automatically end at 18, or can it carry on?
In the UK, child support typically means child maintenance, and the answer depends less on birthdays and more on education/training status and Child Benefit.
Do I have to pay child support after age 18 UK?
The CMS can only assess and collect child maintenance for a qualifying child/young person, generally under 16, or under 20 if they’re in approved education or training.
Here’s the key point people miss:
- CMS child maintenance is linked to Child Benefit, so when Child Benefit stops or should stop, CMS maintenance often stops too.
And yes, it does not always stop on your child’s 18th birthday.
What child support usually means in the UK?
Most of the time, one of these is in play:
| Type of support | What it is | Typical end point |
|---|---|---|
| CMS child maintenance | The government scheme calculates/collects maintenance | Usually, when the child is no longer a qualifying child/young person (can be up to 20) |
| Private arrangement | You both agree on payments (informal) | Whatever you both agree on, review it regularly |
| Court order (less common for routine child maintenance) | Court-ordered provision in specific situations | Can extend beyond 18 in limited circumstances often education or special needs |
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. If your situation is complex (disability, overseas, disputes, existing court order), it’s worth getting tailored advice.
When does Child Maintenance Service (CMS) child maintenance stop?
CMS guidance says child maintenance:
- Stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if they leave approved education/training, and
- Can continue until age 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
The “31 August rule”, why your child’s birthday isn’t always the end date?
Even if your child turns 18 in, say, February, the CMS framework often runs around academic-year style cut-offs, not just birthdays. The official “when it stops” guidance is the place to start when you’re trying to pinpoint the end.
Can it continue until 20?
Yes, up to 20 is possible if they remain in approved education or training.
What counts as “approved education or training” after 18?
This is where most confusion sits. A helpful way to think about it: CMS maintenance can continue for older teens in full-time, non-advanced education (for example, many A-level / equivalent routes), and it’s tightly tied to whether Child Benefit remains payable.
| Situation (common examples) | Does CMS child maintenance usually continue after 18? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth form/college doing A-levels or similar (full-time) | Often yes, up to 20 | Is it full-time non-advanced education? Is Child Benefit still payable? |
| University (degree level) | Often no under CMS | University is “advanced” education; CMS rules typically don’t treat this as qualifying in the same way |
| Apprenticeship/training | It depends | Paid employment/apprenticeships can affect Child Benefit; if Child Benefit stops, CMS often stops |
| Child leaves education | Usually ends at the next relevant cut-off | Report change to HMRC Child Benefit to avoid overpayment/disputes |
Let’s explore the two big questions people ask next.
Do you pay child maintenance if your child goes to university in the UK?
In many cases, CMS child maintenance ends before university, because CMS eligibility is tied to being under 20 in approved education/training, and university is generally treated differently from non-advanced education.
That said, plenty of parents still choose to support their child through uni via:
- A private arrangement (agreed contributions) or,
- Specific court-ordered arrangements in limited scenarios (especially where there are extra needs or special circumstances).
If you’re thinking “but my paperwork says I pay through uni”, double-check whether you’re looking at a CMS case, a private agreement, or a court order. Those are not the same thing.
What if your child starts an apprenticeship or gets a job?
This is often the practical trigger for “Should payments stop now?”
Because CMS maintenance is linked to Child Benefit, the turning point is often whether the young person is still in approved education/training (and whether Child Benefit continues).
A common real-world pattern:
- Part-time work while staying in qualifying education may not automatically end eligibility.
- Starting paid work / leaving approved education often ends Child Benefit, so CMS maintenance usually ends soon after the relevant cut-off.
If you’re unsure, your “next step” isn’t guessing; it’s checking the child’s education/training status and the linked benefit status.
What to do if you think payments should stop without creating arrears?
Because CMS is linked to Child Benefit, changes around education/training are usually handled via HMRC Child Benefit reporting. That link is a big reason people end up confused about timing.
Here’s what you can do next (keep it simple and document-led):
- Ask for written confirmation of the child’s course name, start/end date, and whether it’s full-time
- Keep copies of any messages/letters about leaving education, starting work, or course completion
- If you use CMS, don’t just stop paying without checking how CMS will treat the end date (to avoid arrears disputes)
That’s the practical path most people wish they’d taken earlier.
CMS vs court-ordered support after 18: when can payments continue?
CMS child maintenance is one system. Courts are another, and sometimes courts can get involved in financial provision in situations that go beyond routine CMS maintenance (for example, disability/special circumstances).
If you have:
- An existing court order.
- A child with significant additional needs.
- A dispute about ongoing support.
Get proper advice before you assume CMS rules are the whole story.
Does this differ in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland?
The CMS framework is UK-wide, but Scotland-facing guidance and advice organisations can frame eligibility and common scenarios slightly differently.
If your case involves different UK nations, don’t rely on social media summaries; use official guidance first, then get advice if you’re still unsure.
Real-world examples
Example 1: My child is 18 and still in sixth form.
If it’s full-time, non-advanced education and Child Benefit continues, CMS maintenance can continue (potentially up to 20).
Example 2: My child turned 18 and started university.
Many parents see CMS stop (or expect it to stop) around this transition, because the university doesn’t usually fit the same “qualifying” category for CMS.
Example 3: My child left college in March.
The critical action is notifying HMRC Child Benefit promptly; end dates often follow the established cut-offs rather than the exact day they stopped attending.
How people talk about this topic on Reddit, Facebook, and X
Can you claim non payment of Child Support after turning 18 – England
byu/No-Piece-6500 inLegalAdviceUK
Divorce and child support payments after child is 18
byu/OkConstruction8187 inLegalAdviceUK
Does my obligation to pay Maintenance end at 18 to?
byu/TheLazyLobOn inLegalAdviceUK
Final summary
So, Do i have to pay child support after age 18 UK?
- Sometimes yes (especially if your child stays in approved education/training and Child Benefit continues, potentially up to 20).
- Sometimes no (often around university or when they leave education/training).
- The fastest way to get unstuck is to follow the link between education status → Child Benefit → CMS end date.
Here’s what you can do next: Pull together the child’s course details (full-time? end date?) and check them against the official “when it stops” rules. That single step prevents most “I stopped paying and got hit with arrears” messes.
FAQ
When does child maintenance stop in the UK?
It usually stops when the child is no longer a “qualifying” child/young person, often tied to whether they remain in approved education or training (up to age 20), and linked to Child Benefit.
Does child maintenance continue after 18 if my child is in college or sixth form?
Often yes, if it’s full-time, non-advanced education, and Child Benefit continues.
Does child maintenance continue at university?
Under CMS, often no university is typically outside the “qualifying young person” pathway that keeps CMS maintenance going.
What if there are arrears when my child turns 18?
Turning 18 doesn’t automatically wipe arrears; arrears are still owed if they built up while the case was active.
Author expertise note
This guide is written to help separated parents understand the typical CMS rules and common real-life scenarios around child maintenance after 18, and to prepare you for conversations with HMRC/CMS or a family law adviser if your situation is disputed or complex.
