Claiming for a child.

I have a client who lost entitlement to CTC and CHB for her son in March 2010 as he was sentenced to 9 months in youth detention. In July 2010 he became 16 and he has now been released early. It is not yet clear if the son is going to go to college etc so cannot as things stand claim CTC and CHB.

However, HB have removed the son from the claim and say cannot add him back as he is not a relevant young person but they do accept that he is not a ND for NDD as under 18. I have argued that he is still part of the benefit family and client should be considered as responsible for him despite no CHB.

Anybody have any ideas on this one?

Interesting, would that apply while the child was in a young offenders institute though? No it seems not as after 8 weeks in young offenders CHB would not be paid.