Example
C applied for a Crisis Grant for support with living costs after facing additional expenses related to visiting a friend in hospital and being involved in a car accident.
The council declined the application, assessing that C's income was over the income threshold and the eligibility criteria was therefore not met. They requested significant additional information at first tier, however, did not change their decision.
We reviewed the council's file and spoke with C. We recognised the additional costs they had incurred. However, even after taking these into account, C’s income remained above the threshold for a single person in their local authority area.
We agreed the eligibility criteria was not met and did not change the council's decision.
Feedback for the council
- No initial decision letter was sent
- The level of evidence requested was disproportionate and unnecessary
- The recording of the decision at first tier was not in line with the guidance
- The council did not properly assess eligibility at initial decision