According to government guidelines, 16- to 19-year-olds who are estranged from parents, living away from home and in full-time non-advanced education (A-Levels or below) are entitled to £46.85 a week in income support. They are eligible as long as a third party vouches for their status, but that person does not have to be a parent due to the likely difficult nature of the relationship.
But Gary Vaux, who trains Connexions staff on the benefits system and is head of advice for benefits and work at Hertfordshire County Council, said he had found Jobcentre staff across the country are telling young people that, without speaking to their parents or receiving a letter from their parents, their claim can go no further.
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