London Borough of Croydon (22 017 114)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 30-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about Mr X’s housing benefit. There is not a good reason for the delay in him bringing his complaint to the Ombudsman.

Thurrock Council (22 014 140)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Mar-2023

Summary: There was fault by the Council when it failed to offer Mr B a late appeal to dispute an overpayment of housing benefit. Later the Council considered this and decided not to allow the appeal. However, it was fault when the Council did not pass the dispute about whether Mr B could appeal, to the Tribunal. The Council has agreed to remedy this.

Oxford City Council (22 016 877)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council calculated Mr X’s housing benefit entitlement. It is reasonable for Mr X to use his right of appeal to tribunal.

London Borough of Bromley (22 016 587)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 23-Mar-2023

Summary: Miss X complains about the Council’s decision to create an overpayment of housing benefit in 2016. We will not investigate this late complaint as it was reasonable to expect Miss X to complain to us at the time. Even if we did decide to investigate it is unlikely, we would achieve much as Miss X could have complained to the specialist tribunal that deal with appeals about housing benefit.

Warrington Council (22 009 297)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to reduce his council tax support and housing benefit entitlement. He said the Council also delayed sending his appeal to tribunal. The Council was at fault for failing to inform Mr X of his right to appeal its decision to reduce his council tax support to the Valuation Tribunal, and for failing to respond to his request for council tax support. The Council will apologise to Mr X and pay him £100 to acknowledge the frustration and uncertainty it caused and inform him of his right to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (22 013 264)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Mar-2023

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council handled her application for a discretionary housing payment. She said the Council did not properly consider the information she provided, or if it should award a long-term or indefinite award. There was no fault in the Council’s actions.

London Borough of Barnet (22 009 863)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complains about an overpayment of Housing Benefit from 2010 that the Council is now seeking to recover. We have concluded our investigation having not made a finding of fault. The Council were not at fault to pursue Mr X for the overpayment and correctly served the notification to Mr X which contained his right of appeal.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (22 016 384)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision Mr X should not have received housing benefit. It is reasonable for Mr X to use his right of appeal to a tribunal.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (22 015 853)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 15-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit underpayment that was created in error. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (22 015 859)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 14-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing to accept Ms X’s car insurance as a business expense. She says this affected her housing benefit and council tax reduction/support entitlement. This is because it is outside of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction as it is reasonable for Ms X to use her right of appeal to the relevant tribunals.