Example
C applied for a community care grant to set up their tenancy after fleeing their previous home. The council referred C’s application for removal costs to their Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) team who awarded £310. They declined the remainder of the application as they assessed that the items requested would not help sustain the current tenancy or establish the new tenancy.
We reviewed the council's file and corresponded with C. C explained that the DHP payment had not been enough to cover the removals. This meant that they had to abandon some of their belongings at their old tenancy including two beds and a washing machine. We discussed the issue with the council, and they offered to make a cash award to C of £481 for the beds and washing machine. This was on the basis that C had incurred detriment. We explained the council’s offer to C, who accepted this as a resolution to the issue.
Feedback for the council
- The council did not make sufficient follow-up enquiries at first tier review based on the information provided on the application about the applicant’s circumstances.
We asked the organisation to provide us with confirmation that the award was made within one week.