Example
C applied for a community care grant to set up a new tenancy following the breakdown of a family relationship.
The council initially assessed that the homelessness qualifying condition was met, and awarded items that met High Most Compelling (HMC) but did not award bathroom flooring. At first-tier review, the council changed its assessment and decided that the qualifying conditions were not met, leaving the award unchanged.
We reviewed the council's file and corresponded with C’s representative. They told us that C had moved following a family breakdown and had been staying temporarily with relatives. They were also experiencing severe health and mental health issues and were receiving support from health professionals. While we agreed that the qualifying condition related to homelessness was not met, we found that the qualifying condition relating to exceptional pressure did apply. However, as the bathroom flooring did not meet the HMC priority level, we did not change the council's decision.
Feedback for the council
- All factors should be taken into account when assessing the qualifying conditions for an award, including health conditions and mental health issues that impact on day to day life.
- Decision letters should accurately reflect the guidance and the applicant’s circumstances.