London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (21 001 048)
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Oct-2021
Summary: Mr X complained the Council took deductions from his Housing Benefit from October 2016 at the same time the Department of Work and Pension took deductions. Mr X also complained the Council incorrectly reduced his Housing Benefits from April 2019 to February 2020. The Mr X says the Council's action caused his landlord to threaten repossession of his flat and caused him stress, anxiety and financial hardship. The Ombudsman found fault with the Council for taking deductions at the same time as the DWP. The Ombudsman also found fault with the Council incorrectly reducing Mr X's housing benefits and for the delays in responding to Mr X's complaints. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman's recommendation to refund Mr X his overpayments of £828.24 and pay him £1,500 for the prolonged distress, anxiety and financial hardship caused.
London Borough of Hackney (20 010 923)
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Oct-2021
Summary: Miss B complained about the Council's failure to pay her the correct amount of housing benefit and council tax support since the cyber-attack in October 2020. We found there was service failure in the delay in paying Miss B the correct amount of benefit and a continued delay in paying her all the money she is owed. This has caused her severe financial hardship for a significant period of time. The Council has agreed to pay her £250 and provide a time frame for paying her the outstanding money.
London Borough of Croydon (21 006 289)
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 11-Oct-2021
Summary: We shall not investigate Ms X's complaint. We are unlikely to find fault on some points. The Council has agreed to seek a late appeal against its decisions to reduce Ms X's housing benefit, which is a suitable remedy for other parts of the complaint.
Coventry City Council (21 000 208)
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Sep-2021
Summary: Mr X complains about a housing benefit overpayment. He says the Council reduced the overpayment in 2017 and he had repaid the overpayment. He also complains the dates on the Council's invoices are wrong. We find fault with the Council for the delay in taking recovery action and for providing Mr X with incorrect information. We have made a recommendation.
London Borough of Enfield (20 010 307)
Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Sep-2021
Summary: Miss B complained about the way the Council dealt with her housing benefit and council tax support claims following a change in her circumstances. We found the Council at fault for taking a year to rectify an error in her claims which meant she was underpaid by more than £6,000. We do not find any other fault in its actions. The Council has agreed to pay Miss B £250 for the distress and hardship she was caused.
Birmingham City Council (20 005 592)
Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Aug-2021
Summary: Mr X complains the Council gave him poor advice about his claim for benefit. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council for how it handled Mr X's change in circumstances and benefits application. The Ombudsman does not find fault with how the Council signposted Mr X to Universal Credit services.
London Borough of Lewisham (20 013 315)
Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Aug-2021
Summary: There was no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with Mr X's request to appeal its housing benefit decision.
London Borough of Lewisham (20 013 304)
Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Aug-2021
Summary: There was no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with Mr X's request to appeal its housing benefit decision.
London Borough of Lewisham (20 013 313)
Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Aug-2021
Summary: There was no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with Mr X's request to appeal its housing benefit decision.
London Borough of Lewisham (20 013 308)
Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Aug-2021
Summary: There was no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with Mr X's request to appeal its housing benefit decision.