Housing benefit and council tax benefit


Recent statements in this category are shown below:

  • City of Wolverhampton Council (23 015 042)

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

    Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council handled the complainant’s housing benefit. This is because there were appeal rights the complainant did or could have used and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

  • Chelmsford City Council (23 015 221)

    Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Feb-2024

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

  • London Borough of Haringey (23 014 307)

    Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 08-Feb-2024

    Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about housing benefit decisions. Any fault by the Council concerning tenants’ benefits did not directly cause significant injustice to the housing provider.

  • Lewes District Council (23 014 490)

    Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 07-Feb-2024

    Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to progress his claim for housing benefit. This is because Mr X has appealed the decision to a tribunal.

  • Bristol City Council (23 008 905)

    Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 26-Jan-2024

    Summary: Mr X complains the Council have not dealt properly with his Housing Benefit. The Council is at fault because it did not properly notify Mr X about changes to eligibility in relation to his benefit. Mr X suffered avoidable distress. The Council should apologise, pay Mr X £500, review its decision letters and provide guidance to staff.

  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (23 013 616)

    Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 10-Jan-2024

    Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s alleged failure to properly advise Mr X regarding housing benefit. This is because the events complained about took place more than 12 months ago and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate them now.

  • London Borough of Hackney (23 012 967)

    Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 05-Jan-2024

    Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an overpayment of housing benefit. The overpayment is not being recovered by the Council and is a matter which falls within the remit of the Department for Work and Pensions which deals with universal credit matters. We have no jurisdiction to investigate a government body.

  • London Borough of Croydon (23 005 264)

    Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 12-Dec-2023

    Summary: Ms X complains the Council has not dealt properly with her Housing Benefit and Council Tax charges. The Council is at fault because it has agreed it did not properly take account of Ms X’s circumstances. Ms X suffered avoidable distress and was prevented from bidding for permanent accommodation. The Council should apologise, pay Ms X £229.51 that it told her it would not recover, pay Ms X £500 for avoidable distress, pay Ms X £1,000, consider her housing situation and provide guidance to staff.

  • London Borough of Haringey (23 005 402)

    Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 08-Dec-2023

    Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s delay in dealing with his housing benefit appeal against its decision of an alleged overpayment owed by Mr X. There was fault by the Council in how it dealt with Mr X’s housing benefit case. The Council was also at fault for its complaint handling and its poor communication with Mr X. This caused injustice to Mr X. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice caused.

  • London Borough of Enfield (23 006 975)

    Statement Upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 06-Dec-2023

    Summary: Ms X complains the Council have not provided a sufficient remedy after it miscalculated her Housing Benefit entitlement between 2017-2021. Ms X also complains the Council overcharged her rent for almost 12 years. We have concluded our investigation having made a finding of fault. The Council failed to process Ms X’s income correctly, leading to an underpayment of Housing Benefit. Although the Council has credited Ms X’s rent account, there was scope to provide an improved remedy. We also found that the overcharge on Ms X’s rent account did not cause an injustice to her, as she was in receipt of Housing Benefit during this period. The Council has agreed to our recommendations.

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