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<p>In order to make a child maintenance assessment the Child Maintenance Service must
identify a receiving parent, a paying parent and at least one qualifying child.</p><p>
</p><p>It is not necessary for a person to be receiving Child Benefit for them to
be treated as a receiving parent. However, entitlement to Child Benefit is based on
an overall care test which is broadly similar to the Child Maintenance policy on day
to day care. Payment of Child Benefit is therefore a very good indicator of who should
be treated as the receiving parent. Where Child Benefit is not in payment, the Service
will request additional evidence from both parents.</p><p> </p><p>For child maintenance
purposes, a child must be under 20 years of age and in full time non-advanced education
or approved training, and eligible for Child Benefit. They also need to be habitually
resident in the UK and usually living in the same household as the receiving parent.</p><p>
</p><p>Child Benefit may stay in payment for a period after a child under 20 ceases
education or training until a 'terminal date' is reached. Child Benefit will remain
payable from the date education or training ceased up to and including the week that
includes the first terminal date.</p><p> </p><p>Both paying and receiving parents
have a responsibility to inform the Child Maintenance Service of any change in circumstances.
If parents inform the Service that a qualifying child has left education, the Child
Maintenance Service will seek to verify this and update the maintenance calculation
accordingly.</p>
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