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Housing benefit Maladministration causing injustice
27 February 2007 Brent Council’s Revenues and Benefits Department was criticised by the Local Government Ombudsman for taking recovery action against a woman for a council tax debt she did not owe.
‘Ms Benn’ (not her real name for legal reasons) claimed housing and council tax benefits and had a number of changes in her circumstances. The Council delayed in assessing her underlying entitlement to benefit for the period 4 August 2003 and 1 February 2004. As a result, Ms Benn’s account showed council tax arrears that she did not owe. The Council referred the matter to bailiffs and their approaches caused Ms Benn worry and distress. She asked for help from two advice agencies before the matter was resolved. The Ombudsman recommended the Council to pay £500 compensation to Ms Benn and let him know the outcome of its Anti-Poverty Strategy review.
Date Published: 17/11/08
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