The judgement has helped clarify the law underlining that councils must not refuse to provide support for some disabled children once they turn 18.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has severe autism and severe hyperactivity disorder. East Riding of Yorkshire Council had claimed that because he lived in a specialist residential school funded by the education department of the council, he was not deemed to be "looked after", meaning he would not be eligible to the same support he would have been if he had been in the care system.
Ed Duff of the Children’s Legal Centre, which acted as the family’s solicitors, said: "Children get looked-after status when they have either been in care or voluntarily accommodated by a local authority. The status entitles them to a number of benefits when they turn 18, such as housing, medical care and support until they are 21, or 24 if in education.
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