Example
C applied for a crisis grant to help with food costs. They had spent their Universal Credit payment and did not have enough money to meet their own needs or those of their children, who stay with them every weekend.
The council awarded £119.91 to cover C’s food costs for 21 days but did not include any amount for the days the children would be staying. C asked the SPSO to review the amount, as they felt it did not meet their needs.
We reviewed the council’s file and spoke with C’s representative, who confirmed that C uses credit meters and would have their children for a total of six days during the crisis period.
We assessed that the council’s calculation was incorrect. The guidance (section 7.24) notes that in shared care arrangements, children can be treated as dependants of both parents. The award should therefore have included food costs for the days the children were present.
Recommendations
- Award an additional £145.32 to cover food for C and their children, for the days the children were in C’s care, up to the next Universal Credit payment date.
We have asked the council to confirm that the revised award has been made within one working day.