Telford & Wrekin Council (19 011 271)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to pay part of her housing benefit direct to her landlord in 2015, and to recover overpaid housing benefit in 2016. Mrs X said the Council refused her request for it to reconsider its overpayment decision. The Council was not at fault. It considered Mrs X’s request for reconsideration in line with the relevant regulations and decided her request was late. I have not investigated the Council’s decision to pay the landlord directly, or the circumstances around the overpayment as those matters are late.

Blackburn with Darwen Council (19 010 707)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 26-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council was at fault in the way it dealt with his applications for a Discretionary Housing Payment. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters.

Leicester City Council (19 015 840)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 26-Feb-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains on behalf of her son that the Council unreasonably suspended, then ended his entitlement to housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a tribunal and the matter is out of time.

Sheffield City Council (19 007 744)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 26-Feb-2020

Summary: There were faults in the way the Council handled Miss B’s housing benefit claim. The Council should apologise and make a payment to her.

Norwich City Council (19 015 827)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to pay housing benefit to a claimant. This is because the claimant has already appealed to a tribunal about the Council’s decision.

Daventry District Council (19 008 490)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Feb-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained the large bill from an overpayment of benefits was unreasonable and the Council should have allowed her case to go to a late appeal. The Council advised Mrs X of her appeal rights at the outset giving her a chance to make an appeal against the calculation of the overpayment. However, when Mrs X wanted to make a late appeal the Council did not clearly explain what action it would take. It has agreed to pass a late appeal to a Tribunal if Mrs X provides clear and specific reasons for her concerns about the calculation of the overpayments. This resolves any injustice from this element of the complaint.

London Borough of Haringey (19 015 391)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to suspend his wife’s housing benefit. This is because the complaint is late and it was reasonable to appeal to the tribunal.

Stevenage Borough Council (18 018 817)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Feb-2020

Summary: the Council failed to tell Miss C about her right of appeal when refusing her application for a four-week extension to housing benefit. That delayed the Council referring the appeal to tribunal. An apology and agreement to put in a late appeal for Miss C is satisfactory remedy for the injustice caused.

Cannock Chase District Council (18 016 182)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 18-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council’s failure to make a correct decision about her housing benefit led to her eviction. The Council investigated when Ms X’s change in circumstances led to a review of her housing benefit claim. The evidence shows that as Ms X did not provide information about her partner’s address until after her eviction, the Council could not reinstate the claim until it received this information. The Council was not at fault and was not responsible for Ms X’s eviction.

South Holland District Council (19 015 115)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 17-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a gap in the complainant’s housing benefit claim. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant could have used his review and appeal rights.