London Borough of Haringey (19 011 753)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 13-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman should not pursue this complaint about Miss B’s housing benefit claim. This is because the complaint has been resolved.

Sheffield City Council (19 011 731)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint from a landlord about his tenant’s housing benefit. This is because he cannot achieve the outcome the complainant would like.

London Borough of Hackney (19 010 632)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council assessed her housing benefit incorrectly. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because she appealed successfully against the decision.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 011 751)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 06-Dec-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to recover an overpayment of housing benefit. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because she had the right of appeal to a tribunal and the matter is out of time.

London Borough of Southwark (19 008 239)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 06-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his housing benefit. The Council was at fault for poor communication about the housing benefit issues and a delay in reviewing one of the decisions. It will apologise and pay Mr X £150 for the time and trouble and inconvenience caused. The Council was not at fault for making multiple decisions for overlapping periods of time.

Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (19 011 712)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 05-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr A’s complaint about the Council’s decision that it would cancel his housing benefit and council tax support. This is because Mr A has now used his right to appeal to the Tribunal Service.

South Oxfordshire District Council (19 005 174)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 05-Dec-2019

Summary: Miss X complained the Council wrongly made deductions from her housing benefit entitlement for a housing benefit overpayment when there was a formal agreement with creditors to pay her debts. There is no fault in the way the Council has sought to recover the debt from Miss X. If Miss X disputes the Council’s interpretation of the law and guidance it is open to her to seek her own legal advice. The Ombudsman cannot make a finding on a point of law.

Westminster City Council (19 012 409)

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

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with her housing benefit claim. This is because the Council has accepted it made mistakes and has offered a payment of £150. It is unlikely an investigation by the Ombudsman would achieve anything more. Also, if Miss X disputes the Council’s decision about an overpayment, it is reasonable for her to appeal to the tribunal.

London Borough of Lewisham (19 010 636)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has not accepted his income for housing benefit and council tax support claims. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been resolved as the Council has reviewed its decision and he still has a right of appeal to a tribunal.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 003 117)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 29-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about a debt of several thousand pounds the Council decided she owed in 2015. She says it was wrong to say she owed it and has not acted properly in its efforts to recover the debt since. The Ombudsman found the Council’s decision it overpaid Ms X’s housing benefit and council tax support happened too long ago for us to investigate now. And its general approach to recovering the debt from Ms X since January 2018 has been without obvious fault. However, there was fault in its actions since issuing its final complaint response to Ms X which caused her a personal injustice and it has agreed to remedy this.