London Borough of Ealing (20 004 695)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 23-Mar-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council issued her with an invoice for overpayment of housing benefit, nearly two years after she stopped receiving housing benefit. Mrs X disputed the overpayment amount of £3266 which was accrued between 2013 and 2016. The Council was at fault for the delay in issuing the final invoice. It has already apologised for this which is a suitable remedy for the distress it caused. Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s general administration of the overpayments between 2013 and 2016 is late and it was reasonable for Mrs X to have used her right of appeal to the tribunal at the time.

London Borough of Lewisham (20 011 619)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 22-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not providing clear explanations of changes in the complainant’s council tax liability. It is unlikely we would find evidence of fault causing the complainant significant injustice.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (20 011 844)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 22-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not process a benefit claim made in 2019. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice. In addition, the complainant could have used his appeal rights.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (20 004 146)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 22-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms E complains about the Council’s refusal of a grant to support her business, which suffered a loss of trade because of the impact of COVID-19. We uphold the complaint finding fault in the Council’s consideration of Ms E’s application for a discretionary grant. This caused Ms E distress and we recommend the Council reconsider its decision taking account of our findings.

London Borough of Ealing (20 006 733)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 18-Mar-2021

Summary: Mrs B has raised a complaint with respect to the suspension and termination of her housing benefit by the Council. Further, she alleges the Council has incorrectly billed her in respect of a housing benefit overpayment. With regards to the first issue, this part of the complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion. Moreover, matters concerning housing benefit overpayments carry a right of appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal. The Ombudsman does not therefore have jurisdiction to investigate Mrs B’s complaints.

Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (20 011 942)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 18-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award a council tax student exemption from 1997 to 2000. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Luton Borough Council (20 001 496)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 18-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council unfairly sought recovery of overpaid housing benefit from him through the courts. He says the overpayment occurred because of errors made by the Council. He also complains the Council did not give him a reasonable amount of time to make payment. We find no fault in this matter and have concluded our investigation.

London Borough of Haringey (20 002 350)

Statement Upheld Council tax 18-Mar-2021

Summary: Ms Y complains the Council failed to credit payments she made under a payment agreement to her arrears and current year’s liability. The Council is at fault as it did not clearly explain that a payment arrangement made in January 2020 did not cover the current year’s Council Tax liability. But this lack of clarity did not cause significant injustice to Ms Y.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (20 005 306)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 18-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse her application for a Government grant for businesses affected by COVID-19. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision.

London Borough of Lewisham (20 010 983)

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

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision not to award her discretionary housing payment in 2018. We should not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because it was received outside the normal 12-month timescale for submitting complaints. There are no good reasons to exercise discretion to accept it now because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.