I have been approached about a client, aged 16, who is from a refugee family but is estranged from his family and has gone to live with his uncle.

He is learning English and is studying over 15 hours a week as he wants to be able to work.

When he tried to claim I.S. for himself he was told his uncle would have to claim Child Tax Credit for him.

The current CPAG H/bk gives a list of bullitt points which includes estrangement from family and any one else who should look after you but seperately mentions refugee's learning English in a full-time course.

I would have thought he can claim for him self, but I would be grateful for advice on this.

As long as he fulfills all of the refugee learning English criteria -ie had been in UK for a year or less at the time the course started (p. 300), then yes he could come under that heading not the estranged heading. This will only apply for 9 months though.

If he tries to come under the estranged heading he will have the problem of his uncle acting in place of his parents.

Would they get more money via CTC than IS?