Our client is a young man, just shy of his 18th birthday who is currently living in a halfway house. He is estranged from his mother who is an Heroin addict, and he is currently unable to claim any benefits, and does not have have food. We recommended that the young man be supported to make a claim for benefits under exceptional circumstances which he is able to do, as he is under 18 and living away from home through no fault of his own. We agreed to send him £50 to enable him to purchase some food as any claims will have a period of waiting where no payments are made, so he would be without, claiming or otherwise. Once he is 18 he will be able to claim the benefits he needs to help him, withot it being under exceptional circumstances.