Example
C applied for assistance with food and essential living costs after using their available funds to contribute towards a relative's funeral expenses. C's Universal Credit had been subject to a sanction for several months.
The council declined the application on the basis that C had applied for assistance within the previous 28 days for the same reason and there had been no relevant change in circumstances.
We reviewed the council's file and spoke with C. We did not identify any additional information that would justify changing the council's decision and therefore did not uphold the review request.
C then asked us to reconsider our decision. Following further consideration, the new decision maker revised both our original decision and the council's decision, awarding £102. They concluded that C had entered a new Universal Credit payment period, which constituted a new period of crisis for the purposes of the guidance, despite the ongoing benefit sanction.
Recommendations
- Award £102.
Feedback for the council
- Entering a new Universal Credit payment period constitutes a new period of crisis in line with Section 6.1 of the guidance relating to repeat applications within 28 days.