London Borough of Southwark (19 002 707)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment because the complainant could have appealed to the tribunal.

Maidstone Borough Council (19 002 935)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has used inaccurate figures to determine his housing benefit and council tax support. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient injustice to warrant investigation, the matter has been settled and there was a right of appeal to a tribunal.

Sheffield City Council (18 011 905)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Jul-2019

Summary: Ms Y complained about Council errors in her benefits payments, which it then asked her to repay. She also complained about the Council’s poor communication about the issue. We uphold Ms Y’s complaint. The Council made errors in handling her council tax support and housing benefit claims. These caused Ms Y upset, confusion and inconvenience. To remedy this the Council have agreed to give Ms Y a clear statement of where her situation now stands and confirm it will not seek to recover the discretionary housing payment of £200.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (18 016 531)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 01-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council handled a housing benefit overpayment. He says this caused him financial hardship and stress. The Ombudsman is not able to investigate complaints where there is a right to appeal to a tribunal. However, we can investigate how a council administers the process. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault for giving Mr X incorrect information about the reason it decided there had been an overpayment. This caused Mr X injustice. The Council has issued a fresh decision notice meaning Mr X has fresh appeal rights. The Council has also apologised to Mr X. The Ombudsman is satisfied that this remedies the injustice to Mr X.

London Borough of Lewisham (19 002 919)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 01-Jul-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to pay housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he appealed to a tribunal and commenced judicial review proceedings.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 652)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 01-Jul-2019

Summary: Ms X complains that the Council has sought to recover an overpayment of housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a tribunal.

London Borough of Ealing (18 010 128)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr B says the Council misled him about the checks it had undertaken on a tenant referred to him, failed to pay him a two-year rent guarantee and failed to check the property for damages. There is no fault in how the Council handled this case.

London Borough of Southwark (19 001 847)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because the complainant made a late appeal to the tribunal and because he could have made an on-time appeal to the tribunal.

Isle of Wight Council (19 002 173)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B complaint about the way the Council dealt with her housing benefit claim. This is because it was reasonable to expect her to pursue her right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 240)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Jun-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s recovery of an overpayment and its refusal to accept her offers of repayment. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because she appealed to a tribunal and there is no evidence of fault by the Council in its consideration of her offers.