West Oxfordshire District Council (20 009 538)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this housing benefit complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, it is a late complaint and because there were appeal rights the complainant could have used. In addition, there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (20 002 454)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Jan-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for the way it calculated Mr X’s housing benefit, resulting in it pursuing him for arrears. The Council has amended Mr X’s rent account and applied the appropriate credits. The Council has also agreed to a financial payment to reflect the distress and uncertainty Mr X experienced.

Birmingham City Council (20 008 390)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to suspend council tax benefit and housing benefit for a period while Mr X was out of the country. Mr X has appealed to the tribunal and so the complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Durham County Council (20 009 071)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Discretionary Housing Payment. This is because the Council has awarded a payment to the complainant.

Sheffield City Council (20 009 507)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 27-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment because the complainant has appealed to the tribunal.

London Borough of Brent (20 009 273)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to recover an overpayment of housing benefit. We will not investigate this complaint because she appealed to a tribunal.

London Borough of Hounslow (20 004 013)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 13-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s refusal to determine her claim for housing benefit and its decision to cancel her council tax support. We will not investigate this complaint because she had a right of appeal against the decision to stop her council tax support and there was no fault in the Council’s decision to advise her to claim Universal Credit.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (20 005 498)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a disputed housing benefit payment and the Council’s alleged failure to return a deposit and pay for damage caused by Mr X’s tenant. Mr X has known about these issues since early 2018. His complaint is therefore made late and there are not good reasons for us to investigate now. We have also considered some of these matters before and will not do so again.

London Borough of Ealing (20 001 804)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 06-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman does not find fault with the way the Council handled Mr B’s housing benefit overpayment debt that was listed on a Debt Relief Order (DRO).

Bassetlaw District Council (20 008 232)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council entered his home in 2018 without permission and is seeking to recover a housing benefit overpayment of some £15,000. Mr X complains late about events in 2018. The Social Security Tribunal is to hear his appeal against the Council’s housing benefit decision.