London Borough of Wandsworth (20 007 263)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment which the Council notified to the complainant in 2012. This is because it is a late complaint and because the complainant could have appealed to the tribunal.

Ipswich Borough Council (19 018 525)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr C complains for his client Mr D about the way the Council dealt with claims for Housing Benefit. We find no fault in respect of the substantive matters. There was fault in failing to tell Mr D during a telephone conversation that his claim had been cancelled, and there was fault in the Council’s handling of the complaint. However, those faults did not lead to injustice requiring remedy.

City of Wolverhampton Council (20 008 320)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about data sharing as part of a fraud investigation. This is because the complainant can complain to the Information Commissioner and because the case has been considered by the tribunal. In addition, we cannot investigate the Department for Work and Pensions.

London Borough of Haringey (19 016 554)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 17-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council is wrongly taking recovery action regarding a Housing Benefit overpayment and hasn’t dealt with his complaint properly. The Council is at fault because Mr X was not advised of his appeal right and it delayed dealing with Mr X’s complaint. Mr X was not able to exercise his appeal rights. The Council has agreed to pause its recovery action and re-issue the overpayment letter to Mr X.

London Borough of Ealing (20 004 865)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint the Council has demanded payment of £3957 from her for a Housing Benefit overpayment. This is because the complaint is late and it would have been reasonable for Mrs B to appeal to a statutory tribunal at the relevant time if she wished to dispute the Council’s Housing Benefit decisions.

Birmingham City Council (20 007 711)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the level of housing benefit paid to his tenants. We will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a tribunal.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 007 740)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Dec-2020

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has not implemented a tribunal decision from 2019. This is because it is a late complaint, there were appeal rights the complainant could have used, and because part of the complaint has already been considered by the tribunal.

Milton Keynes Council (20 007 105)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Dec-2020

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

London Borough of Lewisham (20 007 212)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 07-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the complainant cannot claim housing benefit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because there were appeal rights the complainant could have used.

London Borough of Ealing (20 007 230)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 07-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has not determined his housing benefit claim. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council is not responsible for the delay.