London Borough of Lewisham (20 010 905)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 01-Mar-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the complainant is not eligible for housing benefit. This is because the complainant is in the process of appealing to the tribunal.

North Devon District Council (19 021 236)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 22-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss B complained the Council wrongly told her she would be able to claim housing benefit when she moved to North Devon. Miss B said she could not claim housing benefit when she moved, and this put her in financial difficulty. The Council was at fault for implementing the Amendment of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 in June 2018 before the ruling came into effect in January 2019. The Council incorrectly told Miss B her benefits would be unaffected if she moved and wrongly paid her housing benefit. This caused injustice to Miss B. The Council agreed to make a financial payment to Miss B to acknowledge the impact of its fault.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (20 004 337)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr B complained about the Council’s handling of his claim for housing benefit and the recovery of overpayments. There was fault that caused injustice to Mr B. The Council will apologise and make a payment.

Huntingdonshire District Council (20 010 414)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 17-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has not given the complainant a Discretionary Housing Payment. The complainant is not entitled to such a payment because he has no housing rental liability.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (20 010 357)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Feb-2021

Summary: We shall not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council seeking repayment of some housing benefit. This is chiefly because the complaint is late. It is also because Miss X had the right to appeal to a tribunal.

Birmingham City Council (20 001 802)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s delay in processing her appeal against its decision to cancel Housing Benefit. The Council was at fault and this caused injustice to Ms X. The Council has agreed to provide a suitable remedy so we have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 018 055)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about information the Council provided to the complainant about her housing benefit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice and because it is a late complaint.

Luton Borough Council (20 009 108)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 05-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council delayed pursuing an overpayment of housing benefit. The Council is entitled to pursue repayment of the full amount. Mr X complains late about events before December 2019 and there is no reason to exercise discretion to investigate.

Westminster City Council (20 003 810)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Feb-2021

Summary: The Council did not give the wrong advice that Miss X could not claim housing benefit. The Council processed and paid her claims for housing benefit. There is no evidence Miss X was advised by the Council to claim Universal Credit, which she says has made her financially worse off.

London Borough of Haringey (20 006 510)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate how the Council is recovering an overpayment of housing benefit from the complainant. It is unlikely we would find fault by the Council.