London Borough of Ealing (25 017 710)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to take Miss X’s daughter’s lunch fees into account when calculating her housing benefit. This is because the Council has provided a suitable remedy to recognise the injustice caused by the delays.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (25 020 305)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. It would have been reasonable for Mrs X to use her right of appeal to the Tribunal.

London Borough of Hackney (25 022 425)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 20-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because it was reasonable for Miss X to use her right of appeal.

Cheshire East Council (25 009 557)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Mr X’s Housing Benefit and his Council Tax. This is because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused to Mr X.

London Borough of Hackney (25 014 765)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Apr-2026

Summary: Ms B complained that the Council delayed excessively in deciding her review about a housing benefit overpayment and continued to recover the debt while the review was pending. We found fault in the actions of the Council which caused Ms B distress, and financial hardship. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms B, make a symbolic payment to her and provide an explanation for the delay.

London Borough of Croydon (25 022 906)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 19-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Councils actions in recovering a Housing Benefit overpayment. This is because it is reasonable to expect Miss X to use, or to have used, her tribunal appeal rights. 

London Borough of Newham (25 021 630)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 16-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complainant to use her right of appeal to a tribunal.

London Borough of Croydon (25 013 186)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to use her overpayment to settle her arrears. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons why she could not complain sooner.

London Borough of Wandsworth (25 016 025)

Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council did not make reasonable adjustments in the way it communicated with her. This is because we could not add to any previous investigation by the Council.

Northumberland County Council (25 020 381)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s housing benefit application process and how it handled Mr X’s complaint about the process. This is because it is unlikely that we will find fault.