Example
C applied for money to pay for living costs. They had run out of money due to a cut in their working hours.
The council declined the application on the basis that C's income was above the low income threshold for eligibility.
We reviewed the council’s file and spoke with C. We agreed that Cs income was above the low income threshold for their authority area and household type. C had applied for Universal Credit but it was not yet clear they would be eligible for an award. We did not change the council's decision.
C subsequently asked for a reconsideration of the decision stating that they did not have access to their full money due to coercive control. We determined that discretion should be applied in line with section 7.14 of the guidance and that they could be considered to be on a low income, as they did not have full access to their money. We changed the council's decision and SPSO's original decision and instructed the council to award £94.10.
Recommendations
- Award C £94.10 for living costs.
Feedback for the council
- Both decision letters referenced out of date sections of the guidance.
We have asked the council to provide us with confirmation that the award was made within one working day.