Child benefit question

A question about : Child benefit question

It is my understanding that a father has to provide for a child until they reach the age of 16 or whilst in full time education, given that this extends beyond the age of 16, is this so?.

If so, and the child is not living with the other parent, can any payment be made to the child rather than the mother, simply to ensure the child has it paid into their bank account.

Best answers:

• The Non resident parent is required to continue to pay maintenance whilst the child is in non advanced education this includes apprenticeships such as NVQ 's up to level 3, but not courses such as University courses, so these payments could continue until the child is 19.
  Rightly or wrongly the CSA use whether child benefit is paid as to whether CSA is payable. If CB is being paid then CSA is payable.
  However I do believe that if the child is not living with the other parent then that person is no longer classed as the "Parent With Care" - as they are not caring for the child in their home and therefore they should not be entititled to claim either Child Benefit or CSA in respect of that child, so the NRP should not have a maintenance liability to that parent, but if the child is living in the household of another adult who is caring for them then that adult could apply to claim Child Benefit or open up a CSA case to claim maintenance from the NRP in respect of the child.
• Child benefit has to be in payment to satisfy conditions in 1992 contributions and benefits act section 142