Canterbury City Council (25 000 512)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 30-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Discretionary Housing Payment because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Hackney (25 003 965)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing benefit as there is a right of appeal to a tribunal.

Cherwell District Council (25 001 045)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because Mrs X has appealed to the Tribunal.

London Borough of Lewisham (24 016 426)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss B complained that the Council had failed to reimburse her for the cost of all her utility bills in her temporary accommodation and was trying to recover housing benefit debts from her. We have not investigated the utility payments any further because Ms B was aware of the arrangement by March 2022 and could have complained about it at that point. We have not investigated the housing benefit issues because she was aware of some of the debts in 2023 and had a right of appeal against them. However the Council failed to deal with her complaint properly causing her to complain to us. The Council has agreed to pay her £100 and improve its complaint-handling procedures for the future.

Havant Borough Council (24 017 690)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 24-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s claim for a discretionary housing payment. This is because investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Birmingham City Council (24 020 825)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision on Mr X’s housing benefit entitlement. This is because Mr X has the right to appeal to a Tribunal and the Council agreed to restore Mr X’s appeal rights to enable him to appeal.

Bristol City Council (24 018 591)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 17-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing benefit and council tax reduction overpayments. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mrs X to appeal the Council’s decisions to the Tribunal.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (24 023 089)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Housing Benefit payments. This is because the Council have already responded to Mr X and it is unlikely that we could add to the Council’s response.

Birmingham City Council (25 002 647)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a refusal of housing benefit as there is a right of appeal to a tribunal.

City of Wolverhampton Council (25 001 364)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 08-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to recover a housing benefit overpayment. This is because it is reasonable to expect Miss X to use her right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.