London Borough of Bromley (24 001 589)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 11-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an issue that occurred in 2018 regarding the complainant’s housing benefit. This is because it is a late complaint.

Warrington Council (23 018 485)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 11-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing benefit and Council tax delays, and decision making because the matter has been remedied and disputes have been appealed to a tribunal.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 002 774)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 09-Jun-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about Mrs X’s housing benefit entitlement. This is because the complainant has appealed to the specialist tribunal.

London Borough of Camden (24 000 649)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s ending of a housing benefit claim in 2022. It was reasonable for Mr X to appeal the Council’s decision to the independent benefits tribunal. We cannot investigate his complaint about being served with a notice of seeking possession by his council landlord because we have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints by tenants about social housing landlords.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 000 428)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 30-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint from Mr X about the calculation of his council tax and rent liabilities. There is not a good reason for the delay in bringing the matter to the Ombudsman.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 000 885)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 30-May-2024

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council changing the status of Mr X’s council home from a 2-bedroom to a 3-bedroom property. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the management of tenancies by social housing landlords.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (23 020 712)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant investigation.

Birmingham City Council (23 019 575)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 14-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to allow an application for Supported Exempted Accommodation for benefit purposes to the complainant’s organisation. We cannot determine points of law and only the courts can provide a remedy in these circumstances.

Havant Borough Council (24 000 577)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 13-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council suspending the complainant’s housing benefit. This is because there were appeal rights the complainant could have used.

Brighton & Hove City Council (23 012 790)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-May-2024

Summary: Mr X complains the Council is refusing to pay his Housing Benefit by any other means except banks transfer. I have concluded my investigation having not made a finding of fault. The Council has discretion with how to make Housing Benefit payment, and there is nothing in the legislation or guidance that obligates the Council to make payment by cash, cheque or any alternative method. It is not for our service to decide how the Council should make such payment and in the absence of Mr X having a bank account, it has offered him a number of alternatives with how it can make the payment.